One of the most closely-watched tech projects in the state — a data center-fuel cell facility expected to be based on the Stanley Black & Decker campus in New Britain — will seek new authorization from state officials next month in a bid to get back on track after months of delays.
Mark Wick is part of the development group, EIP LLC, proposing to build a $1 billion data-center project in New Britain, at the site of a former Stanley Works manufacturing plant.
Headed by Massachusetts-based EIP LLC, the $1 billion, 44-megawatt “Energy & Innovation Park” has been envisioned as a “colocation” space, where data center space would be rented out to multiple users.
The original plan has undergone some updating in recent months.
According to documents submitted to the Connecticut Siting Council, EIP will now procure 74 fuel cells from California-based Bloom Energy, rather than 45 fuel cells from former partner Doosan Fuel Cell America. Because these batteries will take up more space, the developer has proposed demolishing two buildings that were to house the fuel cells and instead set up the installation outside, on the footprint of the two structures.
EIP told the Siting Council it had to make the switch because the original fuel cell provider added terms to the sale contract that precluded EIP from securing financing.
According to official documents, the Siting Council expects to rule on the proposed changes by March 8.
First proposed in 2018, the joint data center-fuel cell project won praise from lawmakers and then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for its potential to reinvigorate New Britain’s economy and help Connecticut catch up in data center development, which has been a financial boon to states such as New Jersey.
The effort has since encountered delays stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: HARTFORD BUSINESS
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