Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project Transforms Contaminated Sites

FuelCell Energy is converting contaminated brownfields in Bridgeport into fuel cell power plants, transforming environmental liabilities into clean energy assets while creating manufacturing jobs in Fairfield County.

The Danbury-based company has developed a 14.9-megawatt fuel cell facility on a former industrial site in Bridgeport’s East End, with plans to expand the model across Connecticut’s post-industrial cities. The project marks a significant shift in how the state approaches both energy development and brownfield remediation.

“These sites were sitting idle for decades because traditional development wasn’t economically viable,” said Jason Few, FuelCell Energy’s chief executive officer. “Our technology allows us to generate clean power while putting contaminated land back to productive use.”

The Bridgeport facility, operational since 2022, sits on 2.3 acres of former manufacturing property that required environmental remediation. Unlike solar installations that need pristine land, fuel cell plants can operate safely above contaminated soil with proper engineering controls.

FuelCell Energy’s approach addresses two persistent challenges in Connecticut’s older industrial cities: widespread brownfield contamination and the need for reliable clean energy sources. The company estimates Connecticut has more than 4,000 brownfield sites, many concentrated in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford.

The Bridgeport plant generates enough electricity to power approximately 12,000 homes while producing minimal emissions compared to traditional natural gas plants. The fuel cells operate continuously, providing baseload power that complements intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar.

State environmental officials view the project as a model for addressing Connecticut’s legacy contamination while advancing clean energy goals. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has streamlined permitting for similar projects on brownfields.

“This represents exactly the kind of innovative thinking we need to tackle multiple challenges simultaneously,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “We’re seeing environmental cleanup, job creation, and clean energy development all in one project.”

The success in Bridgeport comes as state leaders tout broader fiscal improvements across Connecticut, with brownfield redevelopment playing a growing role in municipal tax base expansion.

FuelCell Energy has committed to hiring locally for plant operations and maintenance positions, with starting wages above $25 per hour. The company also maintains its manufacturing headquarters in Danbury, employing approximately 200 workers who produce fuel cell components.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said the project demonstrates how environmental challenges can become economic opportunities. The city receives property taxes from the facility despite its location on previously unusable land.

“For too long, these contaminated sites were drains on our neighborhoods and our budget,” Ganim said. “Now we have clean energy production, good jobs, and tax revenue from land that was worthless five years ago.”

The fuel cell facility uses natural gas to generate electricity through an electrochemical process that produces fewer emissions than conventional power plants. While not zero-emission, the technology serves as a bridge to renewable energy while providing the reliability that solar and wind cannot guarantee.

FuelCell Energy is exploring similar projects in New Haven and Hartford, where brownfield sites near existing electrical infrastructure make development more cost-effective. The company received $15 million in state Clean Energy Fund support for the initial Bridgeport project.

The Connecticut Green Bank, which provides financing for clean energy projects, has identified brownfield fuel cell development as a priority area. Executive Director Bryan Garcia said the model could be replicated across New England’s industrial cities.

“Connecticut’s manufacturing legacy left us with contaminated sites, but it also left us with excellent electrical infrastructure and skilled workers,” Garcia said. “Fuel cells let us build on those advantages.”

Environmental advocates generally support the brownfield approach while pushing for faster transition to zero-emission alternatives. The Sierra Club’s Connecticut chapter endorsed the Bridgeport project as preferable to new fossil fuel plants on undeveloped land.

The project timeline reflects the complexity of brownfield development. Initial site assessment began in 2019, followed by two years of environmental permitting and remediation work. Construction started in late 2021, with the plant achieving commercial operation in March 2022.

FuelCell Energy stock has risen 40% since the Bridgeport plant began operations, reflecting investor confidence in the brownfield strategy. The company trades on NASDAQ and maintains research partnerships with Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

State economic development officials are marketing Connecticut’s brownfield fuel cell program to other companies considering similar projects. The Department of Economic and Community Development has created a dedicated brownfield energy team to expedite permitting.

As Connecticut works to meet ambitious climate goals while addressing decades of industrial contamination, the Bridgeport model offers a practical path forward. The project demonstrates how environmental cleanup and clean energy development can advance together, creating economic value from previously worthless land.

FuelCell Energy expects to announce additional Connecticut projects by mid-2026, with sites in New Haven and Hartford under active development. The company said successful brownfield conversion could position Connecticut as a national leader in combining environmental remediation with clean energy infrastructure.