The State is doubling down on the notion of building wind energy facilities floating offshore, and California residents should expect to see them rising above the waves in the future.
On July 10, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced the approval of a comprehensive strategic plan designed to help the State have 100-percent renewable energy sources by 2045.
The “Offshore Wind Energy Strategic Plan,” the CEC said, “will guide the development of offshore wind energy, one of the largest untapped sources of renewable energy in the state.”
The plan concerns deploying “floating turbines off the state’s central and northern coasts with a planning goal of 25,000 megawatts of capacity by 2045, enough to power 25 million homes. This transformative effort advances California’s ambitious clean energy goals to deliver substantial economic benefits statewide.”
The number of turbines needed to reach 25,000 MW depends on the capacity of each. Currently 14 MW turbines are the biggest available. To get to 25,000 MW, there would have to be over 1,700, 14 MW turbines installed, each needing about a square mile of space.
Off Morro Bay in Federal waters, there is a project brewing to install 3,000 MW (3 gigawatts) of turbines, and there’s another 2 GW being developed off Humboldt in Northern California.
The strategic plan would see these wind turbines, which rise about 800-feet above the surface, be installed in State waters, inside 3 miles from shore.
CEC Chairman David Hochschild said, “Adopting this comprehensive strategic plan for offshore wind development marks yet another significant milestone in California’s journey to a 100 percent clean energy future. Offshore wind has the potential to accelerate the clean energy transition by providing a consistent, reliable source of clean electricity, supporting our ambitious climate goals, creating local manufacturing jobs and driving economic development. We are committed to harnessing this clean resource to ensure a sustainable energy future for all Californians.”
The Governor’s Office has been involved in all this planning since the 2021 passage of AB 525, which ordered the CEC to conduct studies into offshore wind energy.
“This strategic plan is the fourth and final work product the CEC was directed to prepare by Assembly Bill 525,” the agency said, “in coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, and a wide variety of stakeholders.”
The strategic plan, “reflects months of coordination between multiple State agencies and extensive outreach to and consultation with California Native American tribes, fisheries, industry, ocean users, and environmental and environmental justice groups.” Previous requirements from AB 525 include — establishment of planning goals of 2,000-5,000 MW by 2030, and 25,000 MW by 2045; a preliminary assessment of the economic benefit of offshore wind related to port investments and workforce development; and, a conceptual permitting roadmap, the CEC said.
A little-known agency within the Governor’s Office has been working on the economic planning side of this. Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development or GO-Biz, said, “As we move forward with our plans to develop offshore wind energy in California, we are not only investing in renewable energy, but also in the future of our state’s economy.”
She predicts OSW will be a windfall for California residents. “Offshore wind will create thousands of new jobs for Californians, from manufacturing to maintenance, and build out a robust supply chain to support this growing industry. Our commitment to offshore wind will bring sustainable growth, reduce our carbon footprint, and secure a cleaner, brighter future for all Californians.”
Though 25,000 MW sounds ambitious, it’s a drop in the bucket with regards to the state’s overall energy demand. “California’s electricity grid is served by nearly 35,000 MWs of renewable resources today,” the CEC said, “but to meet the 2045 goal, the state will need an additional 148,000 MWs, which will likely require the development of land and ocean space across many regions of the state.”
This strategic plan focused on wind farms off Northern California and the Central Coast.
“Off the California Coast,” the release said, “floating wind energy technology has been identified because it’s particularly suited to deep waters and offers several benefits including the ability to access stronger and more consistent wind resources farther offshore and reduced environmental disturbances to the seabed.”
That would seem a premature statement at best, as the Coastal Commission just last week was being asked to approve a Coastal Development Permit for Equinor, dba Atlas Wind LLC, to conduct sound wave testing of the sea floor through the over 50-mile corridor from Morro Bay to the current offshore floating wind energy lease area, 20-30 miles off San Simeon. Those tests should determine the exact route undersea high-voltage, transmission cables will take when they are buried in the sea floor to bring the power to shore.
Lots of opposition to the permit was received by the Commission, which was being recommended to approve Atlas Wind’s permit. As to the economic benefits for workers, GO-Biz and the CEC believe it’ll be a boon.
“Offshore wind development is poised to deliver substantial economic benefits to California,” the CEC said. “A recent study projects the creation of more than 8,000 jobs during peak offshore wind development, many of which will be unionized, providing stable and well-paying employment opportunities.”
The idea also includes significant upgrades to port facilities, something the State Lands Commission has looked into and found lacking. The SLC study on ports found that no ports anywhere near the Morro Bay Call Area can handle the requirements for the various vessels and manufacturing centers, including a deep-water port and 50-acre work quay and maintenance yard. But the State seems confident the amount of potential energy to harvest is worth it. “Offshore wind stands out for its potential to generate vast amounts of electricity thanks to strong, consistent winds off California’s Coast,” the CEC said. “Additionally, offshore wind can generate electricity at times when solar power drops off, such as overnight and in winter, providing a complementary electricity generation profile to the state’s renewable energy portfolio.”
So what happens now? The CEC has two steps it wants to take to continue this forward:
• Continuing discussions and consultations with tribal governments, underserved communities, fisheries, industry, ocean users, environmental and environmental justice groups, and federal, state, and local agencies; and,
• Advancing and exploring the recommendations and strategies developed in the strategic plan.
