15 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 17, 2021
ON THE RECORD
Right now we are in discussions
about it with PURA. I think you'll
begin to see some clarity around that
over the next six to 12 months where
we can begin to deploy these new
technologies in greater numbers.
The smart meter technology uses
a product called 'Sense' and the
company that created it is based in
Cambridge. It's able to pick up the
pulses of appliances that are in a
home.
So if you get a big energy bill and
you aren't sure what caused it, we
can identify you have a Frigidaire
freezer in your basement that is using
a lot of electricity.
Smart meters also help with
reliability. They can help us isolate
the smallest point of failure, which
allows us to address power outages
more quickly.
Q: What's the biggest
opportunity ahead for
Eversource?
I think the most exciting thing
for our business will be the wind
opportunity. (Eversource has
partnered with Ørsted on the
development of Connecticut's first
offshore wind farm in New London,
Revolution Wind, which has promised
to deliver 304 megawatts of clean
energy to Connecticut and 400 MW
to Rhode Island — enough to power
more than 350,000 homes across
both states.)
Right now, with our project in New
London, that is going to be the wind
mecca of all New England. That
port is the envy of all offshore wind
developers. It's a deepwater port
with heavy-lift capabilities. We are
investing close to $100 million in that
port (including lease payments).
Those turbines will be the size of
the Rockefeller Center, they are 770
feet, that's huge, twice the size of the
Statue of Liberty.
Q: What's the latest on the
Ørsted and Eversource State Pier
Wind Energy project?
Right now we are in the permitting
process and the Biden administration
is actively engaged in it. They hosted
a meeting [several] weeks ago with
the wind developers and asked what
they could do to speed things up.
They have a commitment to wind
energy.
JOE NOLAN
CEO & President
Eversource Energy
Previous job: Executive Vice
President, Strategy, Customer
and Corporate Relations,
Eversource
Education: Bachelor's degree
in communications & MBA,
Boston College
Age: 58
Eversource CEO Joe Nolan says New London will become the wind mecca of New England after the
company and its partner Ørsted invest about $100 million into the State Pier Wind Energy project.
PHOTO
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MOERSCHY/PIXABAY
