English Station

English Station is a decommissioned power station on Ball Island in the Mill River in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Built for the United Illuminating Company, it began operation in 1929 and supplied electricity to the New Haven area until it was shut down in 1991–1992.
Originally coal-fired and later converted to heavy fuel oil, the plant had multiple boilers and turbine units with a peak capacity of about 200 MW, making it one of southern Connecticut’s largest mid-century generating sites. Its ten-story brick and steel powerhouse with twin smokestacks remains a notable Mill River landmark.
The site has remained vacant since deactivation. Environmental officials have documented contamination from asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls, prompting decades of cleanup orders and litigation involving United Illuminating and the state. In 2025 a Connecticut judge upheld regulatory penalties against the utility for delays in remediation and sent the cleanup standard dispute back to the Connecticut [Department of Energy and Environmental Protection|DEEP] for clarification.
The 8.6-acre Ball Island property is now privately owned. The city has proposed purchasing and converting the site into a public waterfront park featuring shoreline access, trails, and a municipal pool.