English station is an abandoned power plant located in New Haven. The plant was commissioned in 1924 and began its operations in 1929. Six decades later, the station that powered Elm City and the neighboring township was closed down and deserted.

History

The existence of the power plant began in the early 1900s when the management of a local Connecticut power harnessing company got interested in the vast market of New Haven. Originally relying on candles and other forms of power, the company decided to open up the English Station power plant. The plant’s official operation days began with harnessing power to supply local industrial plants in Elm City.

This grew over time and by the 1950s, United Illuminating was the most preferred power generating plant. The whole region of Elm City relied solely on the plant for power. Local industries, as well as business premises, benefited from the United Illuminating Company for lighting.

Fall of the plant

Owners of the company did not take into consideration some key basic factors like waste management at the time they were reclaiming the river to construct the plant. This came to haunt them in the long run as wastes from the plant led to contamination beyond control. Asbestos being the common contaminant, metal chucks, acid gasses, and other harmful pollutants dominated the factory. With no means of controlling Connecticut environmental management organizations on their necks, United Illuminating sold the property and the plant in 2000 after 9 years of closure.

Hazards at the English Station

The property and the building have high levels of contaminants that are harmful to health. Mercury and Asbestos are the dominant pollutants that have been recorded. Others like metallics oxides, acid gasses, and organic air toxicity are minor but dangerous pollutants that are present in the power plant by the Mill River. 

What remains of the Plant?

Back in the 2000, United Illuminating leased the English Power plant to another local power company, Quinnipiac Energy. With intentions of using the building for power production, this never came to fruition as Connecticut environmental management could not authorize the ruined plant to operate. More years of abandonment have further dilapidated the buildings. Known as the dirtiest power plant, English Station was up for demolition but current owners have delayed the process claiming to have plans of restoration. Today, the plant is still privately owned. The government can’t do much but control its wastes at the moment. Visits or tours at the old power plant are not allowed due to safety reasons brought by serious contaminants at the site. However, you can have a good view of the plant by the Mill River when on the adjacent buildings. The buildings are business premises and asking for permission is mandatory.