Governor Dannel Malloy is hoping to position the state as a hub for the expanding offshore wind farm industry. There are currently seven offshore wind projects in the planning pipeline for the Northeast.
Speaking in New London on Tuesday, Malloy announced that the state will invest $15 million to revitalize the Connecticut State Pier. The funding will pay for the construction of a heavy lift pad, improvements to load bearing capacity, and other site improvements. Malloy said the upgrade would make the State Pier ready to dispatch workers and equipment to those offshore wind projects.
“In the next 12 years we expect to see seven to eight gigawatts of deep water wind power come online in the Northeast alone,” said Malloy, ”with the new energy comes real economic opportunities for our region. It is my intention for New London to be in a strong position to capitalize on those very real possibilities.”
Malloy said the pier upgrade will also benefit the state's shipping industry and other maritime industries, as well as bring more development projects to New London's downtown area.
The funding must be approved by the state Bond Commission, which is scheduled to meet on Friday.
