Defying Trump, California continues to bet big on offshore wind

A $4.7-billion Pier Wind project at the Port of Long Beach will create a 400-acre terminal for positioning, storage, and assembly of some of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines. Turbines would be towed north to federal wind lease areas about 20 miles off Morro and Humboldt bays. Offshore wind is treated as a key climate solution, and the project is described as crucial for reaching California’s goal of 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045. The port is one of two locations primed for assembly, with Humboldt Harbor near Eureka as the other. The port will use a major dredge-and-fill operation to create the needed land, while California prepares ports and the power grid for electricity from about 1,000 turbines in federal waters.

"The proposed Pier Wind project at the Port of Long Beach is a 400-acre terminal for the positioning, storage and assembly of some of the world's largest offshore wind turbines, which would be towed north to federal wind lease areas some 20 miles off Morro and Humboldt bays."

"Offshore wind is a key climate solution and officials say the project is crucial to helping California reach its goal of 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045. The Port of Long Beach is one of only two areas primed for the assembly work; the other is Humboldt Harbor near Eureka."

"California's approach is to push forward with offshore wind preparations that fall within its jurisdiction, readying the ports and the power grid to eventually take on electricity from 1,000 turbines in federal waters. The aim is to wait out the current administration, which is notoriously hostile toward a form of renewable energy that is booming elsewhere in the world."

""We're just moving forward with all the things in our control because the port infrastructure has a long lead time," said Suzanne Plezia, managing director of engineering services with the Port of Long Beach, on a recent catamaran ride around the harbor's cranes and cargo towers. The work is supposed to be completed within a decade. "We're in it for the long haul because we do believe offshore wind is part of our energy future," she said."

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