‘This is going to happen’: California’s floating wind lease sale to take place later this year

Federal, state and industry leaders at the Pacific Offshore Wind Summit highlighted the importance of California ‘going big’ and moving forward on floating offshore wind.

Speakers at the conference, hosted by Offshore Wind California and Infocast, urged the state to set bold targets this spring, move ahead with a federal lease auction this autumn and advance planning on ports, transmission, procurement, workforce and a sustainable supply chain to jumpstart a new California industry.

In September 2021, California enacted AB 525, legislation to spur offshore wind development, directing the California Energy Commission (CEC) to set clear targets by 1 June 2022 for offshore wind in 2030 and 2045.

BOEM expects to begin leasing off the state’s central and north coast at the Morro Bay and Humboldt wind energy areas, which will enable an initial 4.6 GW of California offshore wind.

CEC chair David Hochschild said, “2022 is the year to go big and go bold. This is the future. This is going to happen. We’re going to build that future together.”

Mainstream Renewable Power vice president US offshore wind Paula Major said, “The ultimate goal is to develop a thriving, world-leading floating wind industry. To get there, we’re urging California to go big and move forward, now.

“That’s why we recommend the state set ambitious offshore wind goals of least 3 GW by 2030, 10 GW by 2040, and 20 GW by 2050. These targets align with the Biden Administration’s goal of 30 GW for US offshore wind by 2030 and aim for 110 GW by 2050.”

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates California’s technical offshore wind potential at 200 GW, with more than 20 GW in BOEM’s two designated wind energy areas and three wind study areas.

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