Rep. Zullo Supports Bipartisan Agreement on Off-Shore Wind Energy Plan: Renewable Resources, Jobs

HARTFORD – State Representative Joe Zullo voted in favor of legislation on Tuesday that will create 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 creation of the offshore wind energy industry has the potential to create thousands of good paying jobs in Connecticut,” said Rep. Zullo. “I am excited New Haven has a deepwater port and is on a very short list of seeing an expansion of offshore wind energy – this means East Haven will benefit greatly from this new industry.”

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.

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.

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