On May 25, 2021, the Biden Administration announced it has identified two areas along the central and northern coasts of California which the Administration plans to open for commercial scale offshore clean energy projects. This announcement is part of the Biden Administration’s larger and more ambitious goal of producing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. One of the areas identified by the Biden Administration is located 399 miles off California’s central coast region, northwest of Morro Bay. The other area identified by the Biden Administration as a potential Wind Energy Area is located off the northern coast of California and is known as the Humboldt Call Area.

The Biden Administration predicts that these two areas could produce up to 4.6 gigawatts of clean energy. Due to the steep drop-off of the outer continental shelf, the Biden Administration envisions floating offshore wind technologies being deployed in offshore California waters. To this end, the Department of Energy has invested more than $100 million in researching, developing, and demonstrating floating offshore wind technology capabilities.

Governor Newsom approved of the announcement and is quoted by the Biden Administration as stating:

Developing offshore wind to produce clean, renewable energy could be a game changer to achieving California’s clean energy goals and addressing climate change – all while bolstering the economy and creating new jobs. This historic announcement, which could provide clean power for up to 1.6 million homes over the next decade, represents the innovative approach we need for a clean energy economy that protects the coasts, fisheries, marine life, and Tribal, and cultural resources we value so much as Californians.

The Biden Administration’s announcement regarding the wind projects can be accessed here.

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