Offshore

CEC adopts plan for 25 GW of offshore wind by 2045

CEC adopts plan for 25 GW of offshore wind by 2045
(Photo by Nicholas Doherty on Unsplash)

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has adopted a comprehensive strategic plan guiding the development of offshore wind, which remains a massive, untapped energy resource for the state.

The plan outlines analysis and strategies to deploy floating turbines off the state’s central and northern coasts with a goal of 25,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity by 2045, enough to power 25 million homes.

“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,” said CEC chair David Hochschild. “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.”

“We are not only investing in renewable energy, but also in the future of our state’s economy,” added Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). “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.”

There are nearly 35 GW of renewable resources on California’s grid today, but the state is believed to need an additional 148 GW to reach its 2045 goal, likely requiring ocean development.

A recent study projects more than 8,000 jobs will be created during peak offshore wind development, many of which will be unionized, providing stable and well-paying employment opportunities.

Off the California coast, 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.

Next, the CEC and partner agencies will advance the strategic plan by continuing discussions and consultations with tribal governments, underserved communities, fisheries, industry, ocean users, environmental and environmental justice groups, and federal, state, and local agencies. Then the groups will explore recommendations and strategies developed in the plan.

Highlights of the Strategic Plan

Recommendations: The plan contains recommendations specific to marine impacts, underserved communities, workforce development, impacts to California Native American tribes, U.S. Department of Defense impacts, permitting, impacts to fisheries, port development and transmission infrastructure. 

Economic and Workforce Development: The plan will help attract investment, create high-quality job opportunities, provide workforce development and supply chain opportunities for local, tribal, and underserved communities, and drive economic development.

Enhanced Grid Reliability & Resiliency: Offshore wind energy will improve the reliability and resilience of California’s electricity system, offering an abundant and complementary energy source to other renewables like solar and hydropower.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement and Tribal Consultation: The CEC is committed to engaging and consulting with California Native American tribes, local communities, industry, ocean users, and environmental and environmental justice organizations to ensure the responsible and sustainable development of offshore wind energy.

How we got here

Last fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1373 into law, a clean energy bill authorizing the Department of Water Resources to serve as a new central procurement entity for large-scale, long-lead-time renewable energy resources including offshore wind, along with provisions promoting energy reliability and California’s transition to 100% clean energy.

In 2022, the California State Assembly directed the California Energy Commission (CEC) to evaluate the maximum capacity of offshore wind development and establish planning goals for 2030 and 2045. The CEC concluded that California could feasibly and responsibly develop as much as 3 GW of offshore wind by 2030, 10-15 GW by 2045, and 20 GW by 2050. Later that year, Newsom called on energy regulators to increase the state’s offshore wind target to at least 20 GW by 2045, and the CEC set its sights on a new 5 GW goal for 2030.

California’s first offshore wind auction took place in December 2022, where $757 million was raised by two developers for five areas— two in the Humboldt Wind Energy Area of Northern California and three in Morro Bay in Southern California.

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