A study into opportunities for offshore wind in the US state of Connecticut has concluded that many of the assets required by the industry are already in place, but that other elements should be added quickly.
The report, “Embracing the Potential of Offshore Wind in Connecticut – A Study of Opportunities and Challenges,” was commissioned by the Orsted-Eversource joint venture developing the state’s first offshore wind farm.
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut oversaw the study and hired McAllister Marine Engineering of Rhode Island to provide the research and produce the report.
“The findings of this report provide a great value to the state and the industry,” said Tony Sheridan, chamber president and CEO.
“McAllister Engineering has given us an objective, unvarnished look at the status of the industry in Connecticut and the Northeast, the economic opportunities available, our advantages in attracting those opportunities, and challenges that can keep the state from realizing the maximum potential offered by offshore wind power.”
Overall, New London’s proximity to offshore wind lease sites in the north-east, and its deepwater port offering quick, unobstructed access to open water is the most significant attraction to the industry.
Additionally, the study found that the existence of a “robust, high-tech supply chain” serving submarine manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat and the state’s aerospace industry makes the state a prime location to serve as a hub for East Coast offshore wind projects.
With several other states also vying to serve as hubs for offshore wind, however, there are recommendations for quick action to put Connecticut in the “top echelon of preferred sites for anchoring the industry and its promise of thousands of jobs for decades to come”.
The study includes a series of recommendations associated with the offshore wind industry including state manufacturing capabilities, deepwater ports, work force development, education and governance to capture this new and exciting industry which will provide clean and renewable energy.
Sheridan said the report is a “detailed analysis of the industry and a guide for businesses looking to expand by pivoting from their current operations to add the billion-dollar offshore wind industry to their portfolios”.