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November 14, 2024 – Climate Jobs coalitions in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut have released an ambitious new report calling for Southern New England to double down on offshore wind and embrace bold, collaborative action for clean energy and high-quality union jobs. The report outlines the essential steps for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut to transform the offshore wind industry into a regional powerhouse, driven by strong labor standards and equity-focused policies.
March 2024 – The Connecticut Roundtable On Climate And Jobs partnered with labor allies including AFL-CIO, Massachusetts Building Trades Unions, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Connecticut State Building & Construction Trades Council, and Connecticut AFL-CIO, to ensure offshore wind developers prioritize strong labor standards and support local workforce development.
Learn more and view the list of demands to developers and sign the public petition in support of equitable offshore wind development in CT, MA, and RI.
On March 15, 2024, the Connecticut Roundtable On Climate And Jobs championed the campaign for equitable offshore wind development in New England with the help of the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, Climate Jobs Massachusetts, and Climate Jobs Rhode Island.
Together, the multistate climate jobs coalitions led a public petition to support equitable offshore wind development and facilitated an online press conference to address the potential benefits of offshore wind development for workers and residents in Connecticut, Mass, and Rhode Island.
In the race towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, the Northeastern states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have taken a monumental stride forward with the joint multistate offshore wind procurement project. This collaborative effort not only underscores their commitment to renewable energy but also signals a pivotal moment in New England’s energy landscape.
Beyond its environmental benefits, offshore wind development holds immense economic promise for Connecticut workers. Offshore wind projects can support workforce development and generate local jobs ranging from manufacturing to installation and maintenance. This translates into economic growth, job stability, and a skilled workforce poised for the challenges of tomorrow.
The significance of offshore wind development for a just transition to renewable energy cannot be overstated. At its core, it represents a collective recognition of the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner, more sustainable alternatives in a manner that puts local communities and workers first.
New England can set a precedent for other regions, showcasing the feasibility and environmental benefits of large-scale offshore wind projects. In doing so, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also inspiring others to follow suit in the fight against climate change.
The Connecticut Roundtable On Climate And Jobs will continue to work with the building trades unions, multi-state coalitions, and other labor and environmental justice allies to ensure that offshore wind development brings jobs and economic opportunities to CT's workers and communities.
2024 – Connecticut, Rhode Island, And Massachusetts extend the deadline for submitting bids in its ongoing offshore wind energy solicitation until March 27, 2024. Learn more.
2024 – The Connecticut Wind Collaborative launches with $577,500 of seed funding from the Ørsted and Eversource joint venture in part to fulfill contractual commitments to support supply chain and workforce development tied to Revolution Wind. Learn more.
2024 – Union leaders from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts express support for fair wages, green job creation, workforce development, and high labor standards in a joint letter to offshore wind developers. Read letter.
2024 – The Connecticut Roundtable On Climate And Jobs partners with CJNRC, Climate Jobs MA, and Climate Jobs RI to host an online press conference for equitable offshore wind development in New England. Learn more.
2023– Avangrid moves to cancel Park City offshore wind contracts on heels of SouthCoast termination. Learn more.
2023 – Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Sign First-Time Agreement for Multi-State Offshore Wind Procurement. View press release.
2023 – CT DEEP Releases Solicitations for Offshore Wind and Other Zero Carbon Energy Resources to Advance Energy Affordability, Reliability, and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. View press release.
2023 – Researchers prepared a policy brief that assesses the economic impacts associated with installing and operating 2,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind resources in Connecticut to meet the State’s 2030 target.
2021 – Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Offshore Wind Proposal Awarded $500,000 in Round One Funding From U.S. Economic Development Administration.
2023 – IMPACT Research Report Finds nearly two-thirds of Connecticut Voters Support Offshore Wind Energy with Strong Labor Standards.
2023 – Department of Energy & Environmental Protection releases Draft RFP for offshore wind development and opens public comment section until August 8th, 2023.
2023 – The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs hosts a public Offshore Wind Forum to discuss the Draft RFP and submit written public comments to DEEP.
2016 – The Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island made offshore wind a reality in the Northeast in 2016.
2018 – CT DEEP awards contracts for the state’s first 300 MW of offshore wind energy, with operations based in New London.
2019 – This legislation commits to 2000 MW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and institutes robust labor and environmental protections.
2019 – CT DEEP selected an 804 MW project based in Bridgeport, greatly expanding the economic impact of this emerging industry. This is CT’s largest-ever renewable energy purchase.
Landmark Legislation For Offshore Wind Development In Connecticut
Mandates solicitations of 2000 MW of new offshore wind energy by 2030, with a solicitation to be initiated within 14 days of enactment
Requires developers to pay prevailing wages, negotiate project labor agreements and include plans for using skilled labor and approved apprenticeship programs (while NY included similar provisions in its initial request for proposals, this is the first time they have been codified in statute)
Requires developers to provide “environmental and fisheries mitigation plans” that include science-based best management practices that will “avoid, minimize and mitigate any impacts to wildlife, natural resources, ecosystems and traditional or existing water-dependent uses, including, but not limited to, commercial fishing”
Requires CT DEEP to establish an advisory task force to provide recommendations for incorporating those environmental concerns in the request for proposals.
News Article: “New England Unions Push for Pro-Worker Strategy in Wind Energy Industry” (CTExaminer, March 2024)
OP-Ed: “Unions key in ramp up to the next industrial revolution” (CommonWealth Beacon, March 2024)
News Article: “Offshore Wind Auction Yields Large Project for New London, as Feds Promise Tax Credits” (CTExaminer, March 2024)
News Article: “Four developers submit offshore wind proposals. Here’s how it impacts CT.” (HartfordCourant, March 2024)
News Article: “Lamont Launches an Offshore Wind Collaborative” (CTExaminer, February 2024)
News Article: “Here’s how New London’s State Pier is being used to help develop offshore wind projects” (NBC CT, January 2024)
Op-Ed: “Connecticut needs offshore wind energy now” (CTMirror, December 2023)
News Article: “Connecticut opens 2-GW offshore wind solicitation” (RenewablesNow, November 2023)
News Article: “Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Sign First-Time Agreement for Multi-State Offshore Wind Procurement” (DEEP, October 2023)
CRCJ Op-Ed: “Will Lamont lead or stay out of the way on offshore wind?” (CTMirror, February 2019)
News Article: “State Pier’s future — wind or no wind?” (TheDay, April 2019)
News Article: “Lawmakers eye 2,000-megawatt offshore wind power buy” (TheDay, February 2019)
News Article: “Offshore wind backers push New London area as potential hub” (The Day, March 2018)
News Article: “Ørsted leaders pledge to uphold commitment to New London” (The Day, Oct 2018)
Roundtable’s Comment: on draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy (Sep 2017)
Comment: on draft RFP, endorsed by 30+ groups (Jan 2018)
News Article: “Connecticut unions, environmentalists want more wind power” (New Haven Register, Sep 2017)
© 2022 Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs. All Rights Reserved. | contact | privacy policy