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State agencies draft strategic plan for Californian offshore wind
The California Energy Commission (CEC) and other state agencies have published a draft strategic plan for the deployment of offshore wind in the Golden State
Published 19 January 2024, Assembly Bill 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, Volume 1: Overview Report is the last of a quartet of pieces of work the CEC was directed to complete by groundbreaking legislation on offshore wind in the state, Assembly Bill 525. The strategic plan addresses offshore wind development in federal waters off the California coast.
California is setting a course to make offshore wind a key part of its diverse clean-power portfolio to generate 100% clean electricity by 2045. The CEC’s strategic plan follows earlier action by California lawmakers to enact legislation that enables the state to procure large-scale, long lead-time clean energy resources and bring offshore wind online.
In preparing the strategic plan, the CEC co-ordinated with federal, state, and local agencies and a wide variety of stakeholders. As required by AB 525, the plan identifies suitable sea space to accommodate California’s offshore wind planning goals, includes a discussion of economic and workforce development and port space and infrastructure, and assesses transmission investments, upgrades and associated costs. In addition, the plan presents the permitting processes for offshore wind and identifies potential impacts. The plan also outlines potential strategies that could address possible impacts such as avoidance, minimisation, monitoring, mitigation and adaptive management.
Responding to publication of the plan, Offshore Wind California said, “We commend the CEC and other state agencies for preparing this detailed draft strategic plan to deploy California offshore wind at scale.
“This is the kind of comprehensive plan California needs for the responsible development of this remarkable renewable energy resource off the state’s coast.
“For the Golden State, the foundation and future of offshore wind is floating. The CEC’s strategic plan describes the essential next steps California must take to achieve its goal of a nation-leading 25 GW of floating offshore wind by 2045. They include investments in a multi-port strategy and new electric transmission, an efficient and timely process for permitting, a robust supply chain and workforce training, engaging key stakeholders, and identifying suitable sea space to reach the state’s ambitious offshore wind goals.”
OWC executive director Adam Stern said, “Much work remains to review and refine the details of this strategic plan, but its determination and direction is clear. It represents an important milestone that underscores California’s commitment to go big on offshore wind to help meet its ambitious climate, clean-energy, and grid-reliability goals.
“Offshore wind promises to deliver a host of benefits for California workers, residents, and electricity ratepayers. Deploying 25 GW off the state’s North and Central coasts will create thousands of family wage jobs and supply clean power to up to 25M homes. Offshore wind can also save ratepayers billions, help avoid rolling blackouts, and bring real environmental and health benefits, all while coexisting with other ocean users and protecting California’s coastal communities and cultural resources. As an industry, we’re committed to work with state and federal agencies, the California Legislature, and key stakeholders to make offshore wind’s promise a reality.”
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