Port of Long Beach Applauds Bold Commitment to Reliable and Clean Offshore Wind

Statement from the Port of Long Beach after the first-ever offshore wind lease sale off the U.S. West Coast, which will support California’s plan to transition to 90% clean energy by 2035 as well as the federal government’s bid to reduce the cost of floating wind energy by 70%:

Last week, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management completed an auction for five lease areas in Humboldt Bay and Morro Bay, off the northern and central coasts of California respectively. The lease will also be the first U.S. lease sale supporting commercial floating offshore wind development.

To assist this historic action, the Port is currently completing a conceptual design of a facility that could support the staging and integration of the largest floating offshore wind turbines in the nation. Completion of preliminary conceptual design work is expected by April 2023.

“Creating resilient and clean energy is critical to the future of our planet, and it’s essential to the Port of Long Beach as we pursue our Clean Air Action Plan goals of zero-emissions cargo handling by 2030 and drayage trucks by 2035,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “As the Green Port, we welcome the sense of urgency which elevates California to the forefront of floating offshore wind innovation and development supporting projects that will generate 4.5 gigawatts of electricity – which translates to providing electric power to more than 1.5 million homes.”

“California’s strong economy, educated workforce, and commitment to the environment makes it an exceptional location for offshore wind development,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman. “The Port of Long Beach is eager to play a key role in expanding the use of this green energy source, and thanks elected officials in Sacramento and the Biden-Harris Administration for their vision of a cleaner future.”