Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT OFFSHORE WIND

What is Offshore Wind (OSW)?

L
K

Offshore Wind (OSW) is the generation of electricity from wind turbines installed many miles offshore in the ocean. Wind turbines are designed to harness the kinetic energy of the wind to produce carbon-free, renewable, and reliable electricity. Winds off the coast are typically high-speed and consistent, making them a powerful and abundant clean energy source.

 

Offshore wind is a proven technology with 64,000 Megawatts (MW) installed around the world, including both turbines with fixed-bottom and floating foundations. In the United States, the first commercial-scale OSW projects have started delivering energy on the East Coast. The first turbines planned for the Pacific Coast will be 20 to 30 miles from land and will utilize floating foundations to accommodate the Pacific’s deep seas.

Why OSW?

L
K

OSW energy is integral to strengthening the state’s electric grid reliability to and achieve California’s 2045 goal of 100% renewable energy and the federal goal of 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035. OSW paired with other clean resources such as solar, land-based wind, energy storage, and geothermal will help the state transition off a reliance on in-state and imported fossil fuel and nuclear energy. California’s AB 525 blueprint foresees OSW providing 13% of the state’s power supply, generating 25 gigawatts (GW) of electricity by 2045. This supplies enough power for approximately 25 million homes. California also recently joined the Global OSW Alliance during the global climate summit COP28, making a collective commitment to achieving 2,000 GW worth of capacity by 2050 which equates to powering about 200 million homes. 

 

OSW has unique attributes to help a clean grid meet demand all hours of the year, even as the consumption of electricity is set to increase. Energy generated from OSW is produced consistently in the evening, at night, and in the summer – when the California grid can be most stressed. OSW is also a uniquely efficient renewable energy resource due to its high-capacity factor, meaning it produces energy 40-50% of the hours in a year compared to other variable resources that typically produce energy 20-30% of the time.

 

Finally, as California and the western region seek to decarbonize the electric grid and electrify buildings and transportation systems, we will need huge quantities of clean energy. California will need an estimated 180 GW of new clean energy by 2045, which is over three times the quantity of renewable energy online or under contract today in the state. As renewable energy and energy storage needs accelerate, OSW can help alleviate land use pressure by reducing the footprint needed for land-based renewables.

Who is building OSW in California?

L
K

The first five OSW leases were awarded to Equinor Offshore, Invenergy, Golden State Wind, RWE, and Vineyard Offshore and will be located off the Central and Northern Coasts of California. The commercial-scale OSW projects, which would have a capacity of up to 10 GW, must receive permits and approvals from state and federal authorities before construction can begin and have an estimated timeline of seven to twelve years until completion of the first projects. The leaseholders are currently moving forward with community engagement, site surveys and assessments, the development of construction and operations plans, plus environmental and technical reviews from dozens of state and federal agencies.

How do OSW turbines work, and how much power do they generate?

L
K

OSW turbines work like modern land-based wind turbines, harnessing the energy of wind to turn blades that rotate a generator, producing electricity. OSW turbines typically have larger blades and higher power capacities. With individual turbines capable of generating tens of megawatts of electricity, OSW turbines are highly efficient. The largest OSW turbines can power an average home for a day with just a single blade rotation, while building California’s target of 25 GW of OSW can provide enough electricity for 25 million homes. California’s initial OSW developments will utilize floating OSW technology with floating turbine foundations connected to the sea floor by various moorings and anchors for stability. OSW foundations, towers, and turbines are specially designed for the marine environment.

How is OSW energy transmitted to the California grid?

L
K

OSW energy will be transmitted from an OSW farm to our state’s on-shore electric grid through undersea cables. Electricity generated by OSW turbines will be collected at offshore substations, then transported through these cables to onshore substations, where it will be integrated into the grid. Upgrades to the state’s long-distance transmission system will be needed to deliver OSW to communities around the state.

How will OSW be built?

L
K

OSW turbines will be assembled port-side at deep water ports with sufficient space, wharf strength, and access out to sea. In California, the Port of Long Beach and Port of Humboldt are the best candidates for this staging and integration function. Major components, like blades, towers, foundations, and nacelles, will be transported to the staging and integration ports primarily by ship for assembly into full-standing turbines. Erected turbines will be towed out to lease areas and anchored into place at specific locations within the OSW farm array. Electric cables will connect turbines to a floating offshore substation which will collect energy produced within the wind farm before delivering it to shore via subsea electric export cables. 

Upgrading port infrastructure is vital for the OSW industry. The Port of Long Beach is planning the largest OSW turbine assembly in the United States, and federal infrastructure grants for an OSW terminal at Humboldt Bay are already being awarded for site design and planning. These projects will create jobs, bring economic development to coastal communities, and create the port infrastructure necessary to build a growing and dynamic OSW industry in California.

Is OSW affordable?

L
K

OSW will be part of an affordable future clean energy portfolio. OSW is cost-efficient and will reduce the costs of Californians’ energy bills. OSW can save consumers significant costs by untethering electricity prices from volatile fossil fuel markets. It provides long-term price stability for electricity and is insulated from market fluctuations that may result from conflicts overseas or events beyond human control.  

 

Like any new technology, OSW will have some higher costs early on, but those prices will decline over time as the market develops and the industry matures. Public policy supporting OSW will help create economies of scale leading to price reductions – similar to policies that launched markets for solar and batteries.

 

Importantly, OSW is an essential part of a reliable, clean energy portfolio in California which will help support economy-wide carbon emissions reductions. Southern California Edison (SCE) recently examined the total energy burden costs for an average SCE customer in 2023 compared to projected costs in 2045 following electric system decarbonization and scaled electrification in the transportation and building sectors. The analysis shows that even with major investments in clean energy generation capacity (including OSW), an average SCE customer would see a 40% savings in their “energy burden” costs due to reductions in gasoline and in-home natural gas costs.

What are the economic benefits of OSW energy, and how does it impact local communities and job creation?

L
K

OSW provides an opportunity to develop a highly skilled workforce and thousands of new jobs in California. For example, a July 2023 report “AB 525 Workforce Development Readiness Plan” published for the California State Lands Commission, estimates that building an OSW industry to a scale of 25 GW in California could require up to 8,000 jobs in the wind industry jobs (such as in project development, installation, operations and maintenance) and up to 9,000 jobs in port construction (such as in planning, commissioning, construction, manufacturing). 

 

Additional indirect job gains are estimated to be in the thousands. An August 2021 USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy report estimates that direct and indirect job gains to support the development of 10 GW by 2040 could total between 96,970 and 195,271 job-years for construction and 3,979 to 4,513 annual operation and maintenance jobs.

 

Thousands of these jobs will be skilled union jobs through the construction, installation, and maintenance of turbines as well as the construction and upgrades needed for the ports and transmission lines. Across the US, employment of wind-turbine service technicians will increase almost 45% over the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts—faster than any other occupation. 

 

OSW will also boost local economies through the development of a local workforce and investments in infrastructure and supporting projects in coastal areas.

What does the OSW industry need from the state to be successful?

L
K

The state has already provided significant support to the OSW industry through the passage of AB 525 (2021), California’s OSW planning bill, adoption of OSW goals of 3-5 GW by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045, and development of an OSW strategic plan. Going forward, the state can support the OSW industry by incorporating OSW goals and benefits into its electric resource and transmission planning processes, identifying and providing funding for OSW ports, coordinating an effective and efficient permitting process, and engaging tribal communities and stakeholders in the state’s OSW planning and implementation processes.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

What is the current status of OSW in California?

L
K

With the signing of AB 525 in 2021, OSW in California became an integral part of the state’s strategic renewable energy plan to achieve its 2045 goals. Then in 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), held a historic auction for five leases offshore in California – the first in the Pacific Ocean. The five lease areas, sold for a cumulative price of $757.1 million covering over 370,000 acres. The designated areas are off the coasts of Humboldt and San Luis Obispo Counties. 

 

The auction included over $50 million in commitments toward community benefit agreements (CBAs) for local communities and tribal nations. In addition, there was more than $117 million in investments in programs or initiatives that support workforce training programs and the U.S. domestic supply chain for the floating OSW energy industry.

 

The next steps for the OSW projects include project developers initiating site surveys, site assessments, development of construction and operation plans, and environmental and technical review by dozens of state and federal agencies. Projects must receive permits and approvals from state and federal authorities before construction can begin. 

 

BOEM plans to issue a second call for information and nominations in new potential OSW development areas in 2024. The first five leases could supply up to 10 GW which means that additional sea space will be needed to meet California’s goal of 25 GW of OSW by 2045. The most likely future areas are in federal waters off Cape Mendocino and Del Norte on California’s north coast.

                     

In addition to California’s efforts to introduce OSW to the Pacific Coast, Oregon is taking steps to facilitate the development of OSW in the Pacific Northwest.

Are there any challenges and potential risks associated with OSW?

L
K

Similar to other emerging technologies, OSW faces unique challenges. OSW requires new port and transmission infrastructure and faces extensive state and federal permitting requirements. Individual projects will be uniquely large-scale, with a capacity to generate 1 GW or more, and each will have a development horizon, from project concept to online date, of seven to twelve years. These challenges can be addressed through strong state OSW commitments supported by coordinated, proactive public policy.

What role will California’s ports play in OSW developments?

L
K

Ports will play a critical role in the manufacturing of OSW components, the assembly of turbines port-side, and housing supporting vessels for ongoing operations and maintenance. California has completed a study of the types, locations, and number of port facilities to support the state’s 25 GW OSW target. Several deepwater and inland ports have expressed interest in serving the OSW industry. Upgrade plans are already underway for the construction of OSW assembly facilities at the Port of Humboldt Bay and the Port of Long Beach. 

When will the first Pacific OSW projects be completed?

L
K

The first California OSW projects are expected to be completed in about seven to 12 years. Timelines are contingent on the pace of port development, transmission upgrades, power purchase contracting, and permitting. This long development time frame provides ample time for project planning, construction, and community engagement. The state and developers have taken many meaningful steps forward over the last two years through the establishment of state OSW goals, the first BOEM Pacific auction, and the passage of legislation to facilitate power purchase of OSW through a state entity.

Are Pacific OSW projects similar to projects on the East Coast?

L
K

OSW projects on the East Coast have thus far utilized fixed-bottom technology, in which a turbine foundation is installed directly into the sea floor. Floating OSW in the Pacific will function differently, with floating platforms that will stay in place in deep water through anchors and mooring lines. 

 

OSW projects on the East Coast have been in development for over a decade with the first commercial-scale project currently under construction. Although projects on the East Coast have faced external challenges, such as inflation, interest rate increases, and supply chain problems caused by international conflicts, the OSW future in the U.S. remains strong. These recent challenges are not expected to directly impact California projects that are in the early stage of development and are not yet under contract. California’s OSW projects will benefit from central procurement and the state’s thoughtful and deliberate approach to power purchase contracting.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

What are the environmental and ecological impacts of OSW energy projects?

L
K

Offshore wind is an essential source of clean energy that will significantly reduce carbon emissions and combat the environmental impacts of climate change, which poses by far the greatest threat to ocean and coastal species, habitats, and cultural resources.

 

The OSW industry is committed to ensuring the continued protection of the marine environment and all ecologically sensitive areas along the West Coast. Each OSW project will go through extensive environmental review and permitting, which may result in project modifications, mitigations, or adaptive management programs to address potential impacts on species and habitats. The California Coastal Commission has already imposed certain conditions on leaseholders to protect marine habitats and species, including vessel speed limits and protections for deep-sea corals. Floating turbines are expected to have a lesser impact compared to fixed-bottom turbines, which require drilling into the seafloor creating short-term benthic and acoustic disturbances. 

 

The OSW industry has a history of environmental responsibility. On the East Coast, OSW developers are taking numerous proactive steps to ensure any potential impacts are addressed upfront, including establishing and monitoring exclusion zones, bubble curtains limit acoustic disturbance in foundation installations, developing the newest mitigation technology, pausing work during migration seasons, and maintaining clear and consistent communication with wildlife experts and community stakeholders. 

Will I be able to see OSW turbines from shore?

L
K

OSW turbines will be invisible or minimally visible from shore, even on a very clear day. Current planned projects will be 20-30 miles off the coast of California, minimizing impact on coastal views. For a visual simulation of what completed California OSW projects will look like from shore, you can click here.

Will OSW impact tourism in San Luis Obispo and Humboldt Counties?

L
K

Although OSW development will include some associated infrastructure, including new port development in Humboldt and OSW export cables making landfall, these developments are not expected to have a major effect on tourism given its minimal effects on shorelines and viewsheds. On the East Coast and in Europe, OSW farms have also presented a draw for tourists who want to see this new innovative technology in action.

What kind of infrastructure might be developed in my community?

L
K

The primary onshore developments associated with OSW are related to port and transmission infrastructure. Turbines will be assembled at deep-sea staging and integration ports before they are transported to their final location many miles offshore. For California projects, these staging and integration ports will most likely be located in Long Beach and Humboldt. Smaller manufacturing ports may be developed elsewhere in the state, while smaller harbors and ports close to OSW farms may house and service operations and maintenance vessels.

 

Cables from OSW farms will come to shore to connect to the electric grid. In addition, new transmission lines on land will be needed to transport large quantities of clean energy resources, including OSW, to larger population areas.

 

Any necessary upgrades to transmission infrastructure will be thoughtfully planned to minimize and mitigate impacts to local communities while simultaneously expanding employment opportunities and workforce development investment.

Will OSW help to retire the Diablo Canyon Power Plant?

L
K

Yes. OSW offers high-capacity, reliable, clean energy at a location on the grid close to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which makes it an ideal resource for helping replace and retire the aging nuclear facility. 

How will OSW impact the proposed Chumash National Marine Sanctuary?

L
K

OSW on the Central Coast and the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary can successfully coexist and renewable energy will help reduce emissions that harm marine ecosystems. The sanctuary proposal does not overlap with the federal OSW lease areas in the central coast but would overlap with potential locations for undersea cables to transmit energy from those lease areas to shore. Developers are committed to identifying innovative solutions to advance both OSW development and environmental protection. 

Is OSW expected to have an impact on whales?

L
K

There has been no evidence suggesting that any offshore wind construction activities have caused the death of a whale. OSW developers are strongly committed to safeguarding marine life and the environment.

 

Though opponents of OSW – including Texas oil companies – have attempted to link instances of whale strandings on the East Coast to OSW developments, government scientists and regulators from two different federal agencies (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and BOEM) overseeing OSW development have stated there is no evidence to suggest that any of the equipment used to facilitate OSW has directly caused the death of a whale. Instead, the tragic increase in whale strandings on the East Coast is attributable largely to collisions between whales and container ships as well as water temperature changes which are drawing whale populations to new areas closer to shore. 

 

OSW activity presents a relatively low risk to marine mammals. On the East Coast, risks are presented by construction noise and potential interactions with OSW vessels. Developers are taking steps to mitigate those risks by carefully tracking and monitoring the marine environment, and adjusting activities to minimize risks, developing the newest mitigation technology, and pausing work during migration seasons.

How are OSW developers engaging with fishing industries?

L
K

OSW and fishing can coexist and thrive together through collaboration and coordination. Developers in California have prepared robust communication plans, as required by their leases with BOEM, to describe how they will consult and communicate with the fishing industry. They are also participating in a statewide OSW fisheries working group which is designed to prepare a fisheries mitigation and compensation framework to address any direct impacts and lost economic activity caused by OSW to state commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries. Finally, OSW developers will utilize their auction bidding credits to compensate fishermen who have historically utilized a lease area.