Committee advances Kristen L. Erbach for Connecticut Port Authority board

Kristen L. Erbach, nominee to the Connecticut Port Authority board, told the Executive Legislative Nominations Committee on Jan. 23 that she is “honored to be considered for a full term position on the Connecticut Port Authority Board” and emphasized her work on offshore wind and workforce development.

Erbach said she brings more than two decades of leadership experience and currently serves as executive director of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative. She described Connecticut’s State Pier in New London as an assembling and staging point for offshore wind and said a 10-year lease supports ongoing turbine marshaling operations. “There are 3 wind farms that are currently — 1 that’s been built, South Fork, and then 2 that are under construction, Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind. So that totals 160 turbines,” Erbach said.

The Port Authority nomination drew questions from committee members about residency, inter‑state port coordination and local economic opportunities. Representative Godfrey asked whether Erbach, who lives in Narragansett, Rhode Island, had attended Port Authority meetings; Erbach said she has attended meetings since her interim appointment and has “been able to ask a lot of important questions” and learn about the authority’s activities. Representative Yacarino asked whether Connecticut coordinates with Rhode Island ports; Erbach said “we are in discussions with their ports” and called them “definitely stakeholders that we work with.”

Members pressed Erbach on Connecticut locations beyond New London. Erbach said she has visited Bridgeport and New Haven and organized demonstrations and industry events, including a hoist and vessel tour at Bridgeport Boat Works tied to offshore wind activity. She also described hosting a Dutch Offshore Wind Innovation Delegation at the State Pier and said the delegation’s visit “underscores Connecticut’s strong relationship with the Kingdom of the Netherlands” and highlighted local businesses and infrastructure supporting the offshore wind economy.

Committee members raised environmental and operational questions. Erbach highlighted mitigation measures used during construction, including bubble curtains and marine monitoring systems she said are employed by companies in Connecticut to reduce noise and protect marine mammals.

The committee moved to consider the nomination in its business session. A motion to advance the nomination was made by Representative Godfrey and seconded by Representative Gattarino; the nomination was approved by roll call and will move forward for further consideration.

Erbach said she has served an interim term on the Connecticut Port Authority since August 2024 and expressed interest in continuing work on economic development, infrastructure modernization and workforce development tied to the State Pier and offshore wind activity.