Rep. Ferraro Leads Agreement on Off-Shore Wind Energy Plan

From CT State Reps: State Representative Charles Ferraro, the House Republican Leader on the Energy and Technology Committee, helped negotiate bipartisan legislation that supports an offshore wind energy hub in New London in an effort to generate much needed renewable resources and create jobs through a public-private partnership that will revitalize the city’s vital port and state pier.

The legislation, HB 7156 AAC The Procurement of Energy Derived from Offshore Wind, was passed in the House and sent to the Senate. House Republicans said this is the right approach to creating clean, renewable resources that will eventually replace current forms of energy such as nuclear.

"My goal on the Energy and Technology Committee was to help reduce the cost of electricity for Connecticut residents and businesses and this legislation will get us going in that direction," said Rep. Ferraro. "I proud of the bipartisan work we have accomplished with this legislation and the new industry and jobs it will create. I look forward to seeing off-shore wind expand to New Haven and Bridgeport, which will be great for the communities of West Haven, Milford, and Orange."

The bill authorizes the solicitation of bids to procure up to 2,000 megawatts of energy from offshore wind. The state has already pledged $35 million for the New London hub and Eversource and Orsted, have committed $57.5 million in private investments.

The plan is to convert the State Pier in New London into an assembly site for wind turbines. The bids will go out in 2019.

Republicans said that the legislation contains significant safeguards to protect the environment around the offshore wind structures and will mitigate any negative impacts on wildlife. Each bidder must submit environmental and fisheries mitigation plans.

Experts say the waters off New London are ideally suited to generating significant and consistent amounts of energy due to flow of the Gulf Stream waters. The wind energy industry is among the most highly regulated in the country.

While New London has been the focus of most of the attention surrounding the location of the offshore wind hub, Connecticut has two other deep water ports in New Haven and Bridgeport that are not obstructed by highway bridges, thereby positioning the state as a major generator off offshore wind energy in the region.