Press & Media

Courtney Announces Federal DOE Project Award to ThayerMahan as Wind Energy Continues to Drive Manufacturing Activity in Eastern Connecticut

NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that ThayerMahan, a Groton, CT based company that designs, builds and operates maritime systems for government and commercial customers, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium as one of fifteen projects to receive a total of $8 million in funding in support of the White House's national goal of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030. Nationally, the effort is projected to support 77,000 jobs in industry and surrounding communities, generate electricity to 10 million American homes, and cut 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The project award to ThayerMahan builds on President Biden's Executive Order to address the climate crisis and create American jobs by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy on public lands and waters, particularly through action to advance offshore wind.
 
Each of the new projects were selected to support offshore wind structure innovation, U.S.-based supply chain development, electrical systems innovation, and solutions for impacts on radar and wildlife. ThayerMahan will receive federal funding to support its ongoing work in submarine cable innovation to reduce failures, electrical losses and cost—a project particularly well-suited to help the growing wind industry reduce impacts on the ocean environment and ensure infrastructure stability.
 
“As the Biden Administration sets course on a new era of carbon-free energy production, eastern Connecticut is extremely well-positioned to take advantage of the growing, permanent opportunities in the offshore wind energy sector,” said Congressman Courtney. “Our highly skilled, maritime-focused workforce has a deep bench and growing, and we have a new Administration ready to make serious, long-term commitments to kick our nation's clean energy economy into high-gear, particularly with offshore wind.

Congressman Courtney continued, “ThayerMahan's skill sets come from people with Navy, Coast Guard, and shipbuilding backgrounds working closely with highly skilled robotics and software engineers—they know the industry, they've got unique technology to scan cable routes for sound construction and to help protect wildlife, and their skills will help support construction and maintenance for a growing offshore wind industry. Engineering and manufacturing jobs like those at ThayerMahan are what help keep our students and families growing their careers here in eastern Connecticut. Offshore wind is here to stay, and opportunities like these show that it will benefit our entire manufacturing sector, up and down the supply chain. Congratulations to ThayerMahan on positioning themselves to be the best fit for this project award.”
 

Mike Connor, ThayerMahan's CEO stated, “We are honored to have been selected for this project.  We will be working alongside giants in the industry including Orsted, Global Marine Group and SUNY Maritime College.  We continue to hire talented engineers and technicians here in Connecticut who want to be a part of the country's energy future.  The State of Connecticut helped get our business to the point where we were ready to deliver through programs like CT Innovations.   Governor Lamont and his team deserve a lot of the credit.  We also deeply appreciate the work that Congressman Courtney has done over many years to ensure that Southeastern Connecticut's highly developed maritime industry plays an important role in America's energy future.”

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