The Renewable 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.

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.

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

Focus Sectors

The state has emerged as an epicenter of the offshore wind industry, utilizing its three deep water ports – including New London’s State Pier, which is the only heavy lift capable, unobstructed port on the East Coast and has been specifically updated to cater to the needs of the offshore wind industry – for staging, assembly, and delivery. Connecticut has the highest concentration of offshore wind supply chain jobs in the U.S.⁷ and has committed to 2,000MW of offshore wind energy – enough to power 1 million homes.

Fuel cells from Connecticut-powered technologies have been present on NASA’s Apollo and space shuttle missions since the 1960s. Today, the state’s leadership in fuel cell technology continues, being named a “Top 3 State” for fuel cell development by the U.S. Department of Energy – a reason why two of the largest global fuel cell manufacturers call the state home. The first and second largest fuel cell projects in North America are both located here, operated by Fuel Cell Energy in Bridgeport and Derby. 95 active fuel cell projects support over 980 direct jobs at 10 OEM’s, generating more than $600M in annual revenue and supporting 600+ supply chain companies⁸.
 

Offshore Wind Improvements & Projects

• 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. 
   

Support for Connecticut’s Renewable Energy Industry

• 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

Renewable Energy Sector Snapshot

 

◄ Get an in-depth look at Connecticut’s renewable 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