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2019 Landmark Legislation for CT
Governor Ned Lamont signed Connecticut’s offshore wind law in June 2019, following nearly unanimous approval in the House (134-10) and Senate (36-0).
The law includes not only an aggressive long-term commitment to solicit 2000 MW of additional offshore wind energy by 2030, but also some of the strongest labor and environmental protections of any offshore wind statute in the region.
The Roundtable joined with CT’s building trades unions, Acadia Center and other allies in a successful campaign to pressure the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to make a commitment to offshore wind.
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.
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.
We will continue to work with the building trades unions and other allies to ensure that offshore wind development brings jobs and economic opportunities to CT's workers and communities.
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)
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