On the heels of large investments earlier this month by nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Connecticut has selected a proposal from developer Deepwater Wind for a 200-MW offshore wind power project as its first major move into that clean energy sector. But Maine won’t soon follow its New England neighbors, with regulators opting to revisit a previously negotiated state power purchase deal.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) on June 13 announced the project, to be built between Block Island, R.I., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., near the other states’ facilities. Construction would begin as early as 2020, said Deepwater Wind, which also will build the 400-MW Rhode Island project and develop the first operating 30-MW U.S. offshore wind farm near Block Island. Connecticut also approved four fuel cell projects totaling 52 MW, doubling installed capacity.