A proposal for six projects that would support offshore wind power in New London and Bridgeport is one of 60 finalists for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Each of the finalists is a coalition of partners, and the OWIC was among 60 finalists selected from a pool of 529 applicants, according to a news release from the EDA. Each finalist is getting about $500,000 to further develop the project and compete for Phase 2 of the challenge. The second phase will award 20 to 30 coalitions between $25 million and $100 million each, with each coalition implementing between three and eight projects that support a certain sector. The deadline for this phase is March 15. The EDA said even if finalists don’t get Phase 2 funding, the $500,000 will help them find new partners and funding sources. The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments’ project is to determine “feasible sites for the Thames River Offshore Epicenter, a collection of industrial sites along the shoreline and the Thames River.” Phase 2 would involve requesting funds for environmental studies.
https://www.theday.com/business/20211213/regional-coalition-of-offshore-wind-industry-projects-is-competing-for-up-to-100-million-in-federal-funding