Offshore wind development impacting Connecticut

A fishing vessel passes two of the five wind turbines located waters offshore from Block Island, R.I.
A fishing vessel passes two of the five wind turbines located waters offshore from Block Island, R.I. Judy Benson / Connecticut Sea Grant

Overview and updates on 3 projects relevant to Connecticut

The red area in the top right, identified by BOEM as “Commercial Leases Offshore Rhode Island/Massachusetts,” is where the Avangrid, Equinor, and Eversource/Orsted projects and several other wind projects are expected to be located.

Winds of change: CT sees signs of offshore turbine development

November 3, 2022

Today, just seven turbines harness the power of North Atlantic winds along the East Coast. Over the next several years, thousands of even larger electricity-producing machines are expected to rise from the sea floor from Maine to Florida. Three projects in particular—Revolution Wind, Equinor and Avangrid/Park City Wind—are of interest to Connecticut.

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Gary Yerman, right, owner of New London Seafood Distributors, talks with a representative of Equinor, developers of the Beacon Wind project, at a public meeting at Mystic Seaport on Oct. 3.
Gary Yerman, right, owner of New London Seafood Distributors, talks with a representative of Equinor, developers of the Beacon Wind project, at a public meeting at Mystic Aquarium on Oct. 3.
Because of its location in front of the Gold Star Bridge, State Pier is free of obstructions and uniquely suited to handle the large components needed for the offshore wind industry.
Because of its location in front of the Gold Star Bridge, State Pier is free of obstructions and uniquely suited to handle the large components needed for the offshore wind industry. Judy Benson / Connecticut Sea Grant
Dominion Energy’s Charybdis, currently under construction in Texas, will be the first Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel in the United States. The vessel’s first use is slated to be at State Pier in New London.
Dominion Energy’s Charybdis, currently under construction in Texas, will be the first Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel in the United States. The vessel’s first use is slated to be at State Pier in New London. Image: GustoMSC
A site on Bridgeport harbor was being remediated last summer in preparation for the Avangrid-Park City Wind project, which is expected to complete a lease agreement for the property in the coming months.
A site on Bridgeport harbor was being remediated last summer in preparation for the Avangrid-Park City Wind project, which is expected to complete a lease agreement for the property in the coming months. Judy Benson / Connecticut Sea Grant
Map from the Northeast Ocean Data Portal shows levels of commercial fishing activity offshore from coastal New England and the mid-Atlantic
Map from the Northeast Ocean Data Portal shows levels of commercial fishing activity offshore from coastal New England and the mid-Atlantic

CTSG Offshore Wind Energy Seafood Industry Advisors:

  • Joseph Gilbert, Empire Fisheries, LLC
  • Michael Theiler, Jeanette T Fisheries
  • Paul Henriques, H and H Shellfish, LLC

Several commercial fishing vessels are docked in New London.

KEY RESOURCES

Map from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management shows offshore wind projects proposed for the North Atlantic.
Map from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management shows offshore wind projects proposed for the North Atlantic.