The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management wants the public to weigh in on the prospect of offshore wind development in Northern California.
The idea has already garnered ire from West Coast fishermen and their families who fear that such developments could affect the way they fish in the region.
The Biden Administration announced in May that it would open California’s northern and central coasts to such projects as part of a grander plan to create jobs by generating 30 gigawatts of domestic offshore wind by 2030. Two areas have been initially targeted for offshore wind development: about 399 square miles northwest of Morro Bay, where the creation of three gigawatts of offshore wind could be supported, and the newly designated Humboldt Wind Energy Area, which is almost 132,369 acres.
With Humboldt, BOEM plans to move forward on an environmental review of the area.
Also, BOEM wants feedback on two new areas near the Morro Bay Call Area currently named the Morro Bay Call Area East and West Extensions, which is made up of roughly 141 square miles.
This recent announcement “builds on an earlier agreement between the White House, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, and the state of California to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton.
“If approved for offshore wind energy development, these areas could bring us closer to reaching this administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030,” she said.
BOEM is accepting comments through Sept. 13. For more information, visit https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/morro-bay-call-extension-areas.
