The Connecticut Wind Collaborative, whose creation was first announced last October, has launched with the formation of an initial board of directors.
The collaborative is part of the state’s offshore strategic roadmap, which calls for the nonprofit to work collaboratively with varied parties and stakeholders with the goal of advancing the regional supply chain, as well as in conjunction with neighboring states.
The board has formed a nominating committee that will embark on a search for the board’s remaining members, to be recruited from across industry, academia and government.
The collaborative is being incubated within the private non-profit Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer). Both parties have entered into a shared services agreement, through which seCTer will provide office space, financial and administrative support to the collaborative.
Seed funding for the Connecticut Wind Collaborative includes $577,500 from Ørsted and Eversource, as part of the companies’ supply chain and workforce development commitments tied to the joint Revolution Wind project.
“Connecticut has established itself as a leader in the offshore wind industry, thanks to its foresight, its commitment to the fight against climate change and its willingness to invest in the local jobs and infrastructure needed to grow this new American industry,” says Ørsted’s Nicole Verdi.
“Ørsted is proud to support the Connecticut Wind Collaborative as we work together to grow the industry across the region, drive economic development and job creation and meet clean energy goals.”
