The Clean Energy Industry is Growing In Connecticut

Connecticut has long been a leader in the clean energy industry, with the first Green Bank in the U.S. founded here, but has recently doubled down on its commitments to become energy independent and support the many green energy companies located here. Connecticut has established one of the most ambitious clean energy goals in the nation, with a commitment to achieve zero carbon electricity by 2040, which includes investments in fuel cell, solar, and offshore wind energy. Connecticut was also one of the first states to establish an energy storage target, with a goal of deploying 1,000 MW of energy storage by the end of 2030.

"We actually started [looking for a location] broadly across the U.S…. ultimately, we picked Connecticut and Bridgeport. We’re very impressed with the focus that the city of Bridgeport and the state of Connecticut has on job creation, especially in advanced manufacturing for a green future."

— Dr. John Cooley, Founder & CEO of Nanoramic

Connecticut’s status as the largest maritime hub in the Northeast¹ and its unparalleled manufacturing ecosystem, built around the state’s aerospace and defense, shipbuilding, and precision manufacturing industries, has left the state in a unique position to fulfill the needs of various green energy industries – from autonomous undersea mapping and monitoring to battery and semiconductor production to telecommunication and high-performance interconnect systems. Connecticut’s shipbuilding and ship repairing industry employs nearly 11,800 personnel, the largest concentration in the Northeast, second largest among all East Coast states, and the third largest in the United States, more than 11 times the national concentration².

Notable Clean Energy Employers

Business Formation Verification

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships require a tradename certificate with the Town Clerk in the town in which the business is based. Currently there is no centralized look-up and requires you to contact the town directly.

Corporations, LLCs, LLPs and LPs file with the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Search Connecticut Business Registration Data.

Professional or Trade License Verification

The Connecticut eLicense web portal provides real-time access to over 600 credential types issued and regulated by the following State agencies. These credential types include licenses, registrations, permits, or certifications for individuals, organizations and facilities.

To view a list of the licenses administered by the agencies click on the agency link provided below.
* Consumer Protection
* Public Health
* Agriculture
* Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
* Office of Early Childhood & Youth Camp
* Developmental Services
* State Fire Marshal
* Revenue Services

Additional agencies offer their own verification systems. Use the links below:
* Insurance
* Banking

Clean Energy Employers

Fuel Cell Energy

FuelCell Energy is a leading provider of fuel cell solutions for clean energy production, focusing on advancing sustainable technologies for carbon capture, power generation, and energy storage. Headquartered in Danbury, CT, the company specializes in the design, manufacturing, and deployment of molten carbonate fuel cell systems that convert natural gas or biogas into electricity with minimal emissions. Fuel Cell Energy operates the first and second largest fuel cell parks in North America in Bridgeport, CT, also the 2nd largest in the world, and Derby, CT, respectively, serving as models for clean energy production.

Equinor

Equinor is a global energy company committed to transitioning towards renewable and low-carbon energy sources. One of Equinor’s main North American operations centers is located in Stamford, CT. The office is integral to Equinor's offshore wind development efforts, overseeing several major projects along the U.S. East Coast to provide large-scale clean energy through offshore wind farms. The Stamford office also manages Equinor’s trading and commercial activities across the Americas, which include energy trading and optimization services.

HyAxiom

HyAxiom, a subsidiary of Doosan, specializes in the development and production of hydrogen fuel cells and related technologies that support sustainable energy efforts across various industries. Their facilities in East Hartford and South Windsor, CT focus on manufacturing high-performance fuel cells and play a critical role in testing, assembling, and refining hydrogen fuel cell systems, ensuring efficiency and reliability. Additionally, the site supports research and development initiatives aimed at improving fuel cell performance and reducing costs, driving innovation in sustainable energy.

Nel

Nel is a Norway-based global leader in hydrogen production technologies, specializing in electrolysis systems that produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources. Nel’s Connecticut facility, located in Wallingford, CT, is a key site for the company’s PEM electrolyser production. The facility focuses on the design, manufacturing, and testing of advanced electrolysis systems, which are essential for producing green hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The Wallingford site also supports research and development efforts aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of hydrogen production.

Key Facts

in the United States for Offshore Wind Power³

lowest impact on climate change in the U.S.⁵

in the nation for fuel cell patents⁴

most energy efficient state⁶

Industry Subsectors

Support for Connecticut’s Clean Energy Industry

Clean Energy

Offshore Wind Assets

State Pier: As a result of Connecticut’s strategic investment in the State Pier Terminal in New London – totaling $310 million, which includes $100 million in private sector funding from the offshore wind developer joint venture of Orsted and Eversource – Connecticut is at the forefront of U.S. offshore wind marshaling operations. Once sea-ready, the first U.S.-built wind turbine installation vessel, Dominion’s Charybdis, will deploy first out of State Pier Terminal to support construction of Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind.
New Haven Harbor: A $63 million deepening and widening effort undertaking by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will create deeper and wider channels to increase the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven Harbor. This project will dredge the main ship channel, maneuvering area, and turning basin to -40 feet mean lower low water and widen the main channel and turning basin to allow larger vessels to efficiently access the Port of New Haven’s terminals.
Barnum Landing: AVANGRID Renewables is redeveloping the 18.3-acre waterfront industrial property to host hundreds of local workers hired to do critical foundation transition piece steel fabrication and final outfitting. This redevelopment will build valuable Connecticut-based offshore wind capabilities along with a trained workforce prepared for future offshore wind projects.
Offshore Wind Projects: Connecticut plays an outsized role in the industry, helping our neighbors deliver on their clean energy goals from our ports, including: South Fork Wind (132 MW), currently being assembled and marshaled from State Pier, will provide power to 70,000 homes on Long Island, New York; Revolution Wind (704MW), currently assembled and marshalled from State Pier, will provide power to 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island; Sunrise Wind (924 MW) will provide power to nearly 600,000 homes in New York in 2025.

Industry Support

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection — state agency that is committed to making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available has a variety of programs and incentives ranging from EV charging to energy storage
Connecticut Power & Energy Society — Connecticut’s leading association of energy professionals, is dedicated to generating information, sharing ideas and educating Connecticut about energy
CT Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition — promotes development, manufacturing and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, serving as a voice for the industry
Naval & Maritime Consortium (NMC) — part of the ecosystem of support available for BlueTech companies in New England that provides mentorship, collaboration, and business networking opportunities
Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap — provides direction for the sustainable and equitable growth of Connecticut’s offshore wind economy with a focus on infrastructure and real estate, supply chain growth, workforce expansion, and R&D partnerships
UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) — Education, research, and innovation in sustainable energy systems
UConn Offshore Wind Energy and Grid Integration Research at Eversource Energy Center — joint commitment to accelerating research and adoption of blended energy sources, including solar, wind, hydrogen, fuel cell, and hydro, and to further modernize the regional power grid
Connecticut Initiative on Environmental Research of Offshore Wind (CIEROW) at UConn — an interdisciplinary team of scientists who conduct targeted research in marine environments potentially impacted by offshore wind energy industry while also supporting the industry with enhanced monitoring, data analytics and modeling capabilities
Connecticut Innovations (CI) — Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies
CONNSTEP — a business consulting firm focused on identifying opportunities for growth, improving productivity, and ensuring competitiveness

Accelerate Growth

Optimize Site & Operations

Find Funding & Reduce Taxes

Clean Energy Sector Snapshot

◄ Get an in-depth look at Connecticut’s clean energy industry cluster.

industry trends and dynamics
concentrations of talent and workforce pipelines in Connecticut
Connecticut's regulatory environment
logistical and infrastructure considerations
the state’s strengths for companies in the state
data and resources for companies seeking market entry into Connecticut

Learn more about Connecticut's key industries in our detailed snapshots.

¹Lightcast, 2021; ²Lightcast, 2022; ³Business Facilities Magazine 2022; ⁴U.S. Department of Energy, 2020; ⁵WalletHub, 2023; ⁶American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, 2022; ⁷Lightcast, 2022, AdvanceCT calculations; ⁸Connecticut Hydrogen Fuel Cell Coalition, 2022