The Interior Department is also advancing the Humboldt Call Area, about 30 nautical miles west of Humboldt Bay, as a potential wind energy site located off northern California.
These initial areas for offshore wind development in the Pacific Ocean could bring up to 4.6 GW of clean energy to the grid, enough to power 1.6 million American homes.
The announcement extends the Biden administration’s approach on offshore wind to the Pacific coast, while crucial state-level legislation to support offshore wind is now advancing through the California State Assembly.
To date, the Energy Department, through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and ARPA-E have invested more than $100 million in researching, developing, and demonstrating the floating wind energy technology.
National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said the effort demonstrates a “whole of government approach to fulfilling President Biden’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.”
“It shows the U.S. can smartly develop our nation’s world-class offshore wind energy resources, deploy new technologies that our government has helped to advance, and create thousands of good-paying, union jobs – all in the service of combating the climate crisis,” she said.
The federal agreement brought together McCarthy, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, and Under Secretary for Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl, and means that California has a clear pathway to lease areas the state needs to unlock clean energy and economic development.
“Tackling the climate crisis is a national security imperative and the Defense Department is proud to have played a role in this important effort,” said Kahl.
“The Defense Department is committed to working across the U.S. government to find solutions that support renewable energy in a manner compatible with essential military operations,” Kahl said.
“This announcement provides a clear path for offshore wind’s expansion to the West Coast and is a vital milestone for many major industry stakeholders” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind.
“As the fifth largest economy in the world, the global offshore wind industry has been waiting for California to open. I commend Governor Newsom and his team for working diligently with Congress and the Administration to accomplish this important milestone. While interest from the global industry will be unprecedented, West Coast development requires American ingenuity and innovation in next generation technologies that will create opportunities for engineering firms and skilled labor,” added Burdock.
“Now that the Federal government has put California’s lease areas in play, the state government’s support of infrastructure, training, and clear market pathways is key to the realisation of turbines spinning and leveling out the infamous clean energy duck curve,” she concluded.
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