Connecticut Ranks #5 in Offshore Wind Power Development, Aerospace

The annual rankings in a range of business development categories are in, and Connecticut is ranked in the top10 in two of nearly a dozen categories.  The state ranked #5 among the leaders in aerospace, a traditional strength, and also at #5 in offshore wind power development, as that field gained significant traction in 2019. 

The rankings, by Business Facilities magazine, the new renewable energy category in the 16th annual rankings.  The ranking is based on announced state commitments to install offshore wind capacity by 2035.

The publication points out that “East Coast states are leading the way in the creation of this new renewable power source, which has unlimited potential if related investments are made to connect power grids to new offshore wind farms.”  Just ahead of Connecticut are New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts, with Rhode Island ranking sixth.

Among the other workforce categories, Louisiana led the way in Workforce Development/Talent Attraction, Virginia was the leader in Cybersecurity, Texas was recognized for Best Business Climate and Utah for Startup Ecosystem.  In addition, California was ranked first in Solar Power Jobs, Georgia in Film Production, and Virginia in Digital Infrastructure.

Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)points out that “As both a pioneer and a global leader in aerospace and defense, Connecticut is home to ‘Aerospace Alley,’ an industrial ecosystem of thousands of advanced manufacturing companies drawing from the fifth most productive workforce in America.”

The DECD website references leading companies in the industry including Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, GKN Aerospace and Kaman, and notes that the state provides “technical support and business-development services” for aerospace and defense companies.

Connecticut is one of only a few states in the country to earn the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) designation, which provides access to more than $1 billion in federal funds for manufacturing economic development, according to DECD.

Connecticut’s push into the offshore wind power industry began in earnest in 2019, with legislation that authorized the development of offshore wind in Connecticut.

“Connecticut should be the central hub of the offshore wind industry in New England,” Governor Lamont said when he signed the legislation. “This emerging industry has the potential to create hundreds of good paying jobs for the residents of our state and drive economic growth in towns along our shoreline. By adopting this new law, we are sending a clear message – Connecticut is serious about becoming a major player in the clean energy economy.”

By year’s end, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection had announced the selection of Vineyard Wind to develop an 804-megawatt offshore wind project.  When completed, the project is expected to constitute roughly 14% of the state’s power needs.

“As we address the urgent challenge of climate change, this selection demonstrates Connecticut’s leadership in advancing solutions at the scale that we need to help provide a solution to this global threat,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, who described Connecticut’s first offshore-wind-only competitive process as “historic.”

The Vineyard Wind proposal, known as the Park City Wind Project, also includes a multi-billion dollar redevelopment of an 18-acre area at the port in Bridgeport to be used as staging for offshore wind. “When we think about the future of the state’s economy, clean energy and renewables is a big component … So with this significant procurement, this is going to help set up that base,” said DECD Commissioner David Lehman at that time.

Just last week, the Connecticut Port Authority applied for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for proposed work in the Thames River at State Pier, New London, Connecticut.  That proposed project would serve as a long-term, regional offshore wind port facility while continuing to support other existing long-term breakbulk cargo operations.

The Connecticut Port Authority, Gateway Terminal, Ørsted, and Eversource reached a final agreement on the State Pier project in February. The first phase of construction to complete the facility infrastructure upgrades to meet the heavy-lift requirements of Ørsted and Eversource’s offshore wind projects is expected to begin in early 2021.

Following the completion of the infrastructure upgrade project, the Ørsted and Eversource joint venture company will enter into a ten-year lease agreement, which will allow it to use State Pier for wind turbine generator pre-assembly and staging to power their Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, and South Fork Wind projects with a combined capacity of more than 1.7 GW, including 304 MW coming to Connecticut through Revolution Wind, the website offshorewind.biz reported.