(a) As used in subsection (b) of this section:

(1) “Economic development project” means any project which is to be used or occupied by any person for (A) manufacturing, industrial, research, office or product warehousing or distribution purposes or hydroponic or aquaponic food production purposes and which Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated determines will tend to maintain or provide gainful employment, maintain or increase the tax base of the economy, or maintain, expand or diversify industry in the state, (B) controlling, abating, preventing or disposing land, water, air or other environmental pollution, including, without limitation, thermal, radiation, sewage, wastewater, solid waste, toxic waste, noise or particulate pollution, except resources recovery facilities, as defined in § 22a-219a, used for the principal purpose of processing municipal solid waste and which are not expansions or additions to resources recovery facilities operating on July 1, 1990, (C) the conservation of energy or utilization of cogeneration technology or solar, wind, hydro, biomass or other renewable sources to produce energy for any industrial or commercial application, or (D) any other purpose which the corporation determines will materially contribute to the economic base of the state by creating or retaining jobs, promoting the export of products or services beyond state boundaries, encouraging innovation in products or services, or otherwise contributing to, supporting or enhancing existing activities that are important to the economic base of the state.

(2) “Professional engineer” means a person who is qualified by reason of his knowledge of mathematics, the physical sciences and the principles of engineering, acquired by professional education and practical experience, to engage in engineering practice, including rendering or offering to render to clients any professional service such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design or responsible supervision of construction, in connection with any public or privately owned structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works or projects in which the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, public health or property is concerned or involved, and who is licensed by the state of Connecticut as a professional engineer pursuant to chapter 391.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any professional engineer licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 391 may certify to a state agency with authority to issue a permit for an economic development project under any provision of the general statutes that such economic development project is in compliance with all requirements for issuance of a state permit by such state agency.