Stories Written on a Snowy Night Part 3: Naval Base

The New London Day scrapped their online version of this story...but that doesn't mean we can't look and see what our radio writers came up with.

Navy Version 1:

Everyone wins if the Navy accepts Connecticut's offer of $7.65 million for construction projects in Groton. If they say yes, the Navy can fufil their hopes of improving their shore infrastructure while Connecticut helps to keep them afloat.

According to a Navy spokeswoman, Connecticut is the first state to provide the Navy with money for construction purposes. And if the Navy accepts, $4.65 million would be used to upgrade the base's facility for its divers. The remainder would go toward replacing the aging boilers at the base power plant.

In 2005, the Pentagon tried closing the base, but an independent comission overruled this possibility. But now, Gov. Jodi Rell is doing all she can to help the submarine base stay afloat stating that it has an annual economic impact that can be measured in billions of dollars.
Now it is up to the Navy to decide whether to accept the money for the state or not. But Justin Bernier, an executive director of the state's Office of Miliary Affairs, assures us that its just a matter of moving some paperwork back and forth. "These things just take time," he said. Hopefully we will see some improvements in the near future.

Navy Version 2:

The state of Connecticut today offered the Naval Submarine Base $7.65 million for construction projects. [Quote:] "This is really unique," Lt. Laura Stegherr said Monday. "We need to reinvest and recapitalize our shore infrastructure, and a grant such as this could provide a mutual benefit to the state and the installation."Of that $7.65 million, $4.65 million would be used to upgrade the base's facility for its divers and the remainder would go toward replacing the aging boilers at the base power plant.

The $7.65 million is “still under consideration by the Navy,” Stegherr said, because the state has not yet approached Navy officials with the offer. The Navy decides on a case-by-case basis whether to accept money from a state. [Quote:] "The submarine base has an annual economic impact that can be measured in billions of dollars, and we want to do all we can to keep it off of future closure lists," Governor Rell said in a statement.

Navy Version 3:

The Naval Submarine Base in Groton may get a face lift. The state of Connecticut has approved $7.65 million in grants for construction at the base. The grants are part of $40 million the state legislature approved for base improvements in 2007. Governor M. Jodi Rell decided to expend part of those funds for diving facility upgrades and to replace boilers at the base power plant.

In 2005 the Pentagon considered closing the base but was overruled by an independent commission. Rell hopes investing the base will help keep it open saying it has an annual impact on the state upwards of a billion dollars. The Navy decides on a case-by-case basis whether to accept money from a state.

Currently Connecticut’s offer is still being considered by the Navy. Justin Bernier of the State Office of Military Affairs said the state is finalizing a deal with the Navy that stipulates how the money can be spent. Bernier said that now it is “just a matter of paperwork” that he expects will be complete in a few weeks.