Energy companies Eversource and Orsted have reached a multi-million dollar multi-year host city agreement with New London, Connecticut, over the use of State Pier for future offshore wind projects.
New London Mayor Mike Passero said despite the Connecticut Port Authority's involvement in the project and their continued dysfunction, he doesn’t believe the deal was struck to take the media spotlight off them.
“We were at a crucial point in that process so if anything was driving the timetable it was the process, the permitting process. No one wanted to jeopardize the project. In order for New London to move forward, quite frankly there had to be a fair share of revenue for the city and that was the issue,” Passero said.
New London was given "intervenor" status that gives them a say over permits for the project.
The host agreement will benefit the city with yearly payments of around $1 million for the next seven years once the construction of offshore wind projects starts.
