Empty for decades, New Britain’s former Stanley Black & Decker manufacturing site will have new life.
As part of a $1 billion project, an energy and data center will soon take residence in buildings that have been dormant for more than 30 years.
The Energy & Innovation Park is being privately funded by EIP, LLC. Phase one construction is scheduled this month and will include 44 Connecticut-made Doosan Fuel cells. It will be the world’s largest indoor fuel cell installation, providing clean, renewable energy.
Once fully built out, in a four stage process, the data center will host computers and servers that will comprise the high-performance computing center.
“Within two or three years they’re gonna be a state of the art data facility providing digital back up for all the tech companies and finance companies throughout Connecticut and this region,” said Gov. Ned Lamont.
Lamont says this is the type of project that could lure new business to the state.
“It’s a reason other tech savvy companies are going to want to come to Connecticut because they have a facility just like this here in New Britain,” he said.
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The project, estimated to be completed within five years, is expected to generate $200 million in tax revenues for Connecticut and $45 million in New Britain alone. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart says this project will make EIP, one of the largest taxpayers in New Britain, practically overnight.
“This data center is a game changer,” said Stewart. “It is going to change the way people view Connecticut in our region. With this data center you will see Silicon Valley shift east and with that technology companies and good paying jobs will follow.”
Officials say this could create up to 3,000 jobs within the next twenty years; something New Britain residents are praising.
“I think it’s great,” said New Britain’s Jessica Sierra. “We need anything that we can get in this city to bring some value. Bring some jobs to the people that are living here.”
