On June 26, Sierra Club Connecticut hosted a visit to the renovated New London State Pier Terminal to learn about and observe the monumental offshore wind infrastructure currently under construction as a part of building the Revolution Wind project. Due to go online in 2025, this project will include 65 wind turbines and will produce 704 megawatts (MW) of power for homes and businesses in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Ulysses Hammond, Interim Director of the CT Port Authority, spoke to us about the history of reworking our State Pier into a state-of-the-art facility, alone in the world in its capability to quickly store, construct, and transport the components of the 440 foot wind turbines. The Connecticut State Pier terminal has already scheduled three offshore wind farm projects, totaling more than 1,760 MW.

 

We are proud of Connecticut’s leadership in this area and inspired to see the benefits to our state in good jobs and a strong new industry based right here! Viewing the pier with its standing turbine stacks was like seeing a new world before us, and we left with a renewed feeling of hope for our renewable energy future.

 

Offshore wind (OSW) development stalled in New England in 2021. Many of us were discouraged about the future of offshore wind when rising costs, higher interest rates, and supply chain issues caused developers to cancel contracts to sell OSW to utilities. The Connecticut State Pier redevelopment was also delayed due to a local scandal. 

 

Fortunately, 2024 has turned things around! In January, the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S., Vineyard Wind, came online. Producing 800 MW of electricity, it will power over 400,000 homes, and reduce carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year. In March, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, working together, held a regional solicitation seeking project bids for 6000 MW of OSW. That will go a long way to achieving New England’s goal of 9000 MW of OSW by 2030. Several bids were received, and the winning projects will be announced on August 7. The renovated State Pier is well-positioned to bring the construction of these projects to Connecticut.

 

What impact will this huge addition of renewable energy have on our electric grid, economy, and environment? Detractors say that this will cause electric prices to rise. However, a new report, “Charting the Wind,” by Synapse Energy asserts that OSW is projected to save New England customers $630 annually on their electric bills, alongside the public health and climate benefits. It will reduce New England power sector emissions of CO2 by 42%, avoid 641 tons of PM2.5 particulate matter, and result in $360 million benefits to public health annually.

 

The Department of the Interior has announced more OSW auctions in Maine and Oregon, which could generate over 8 gigawatts of OSW energy, enough to power 6 million homes. More to come!

 

Offshore wind is key to meeting Connecticut’s goals for renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets. As this new industry takes off, we can all feel hope for a cleaner, healthier future.

 

We plan to host more events to highlight offshore wind and other positive developments toward a clean energy world.

 

Coming soon – August 5, 3-4:30, Building The SCSU School of Business: CT's First State-Owned Net Zero Design. Join us in New Haven for a presentation and tour of this unique and sustainable education space. Register here.

 

For more background, read Sam Dynowski’s piece on Connecticut’s developing offshore wind industry, “Reinventing Power, Renewing Hope: A Look Inside the Northeast’s Growing Offshore Wind Industry” in the June newsletter.

 

 Susan Eastwood is Chapter Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut.