California isn't backing down on offshore wind power despite Trump cancellation

"California's ambitious plan to generate clean electricity from offshore wind suffered a considerable blow recently when the Trump administration canceled nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding for the state's largest project. But industry insiders, experts and officials told The Times they aren't slowing the pursuit of this up-and-coming technology. The Golden State last year approved a landmark plan for developing 25 gigawatts of floating offshore wind by 2045."

"It is a climate solution and key component of the state's goal of reaching 100% carbon neutrality by 2045. Floating offshore wind is relatively new compared with fixed offshore wind, which involves attaching turbines directly to the sea floor. Most offshore wind around the world so far is fixed. California has been exploring floating turbines because the Pacific Ocean is so deep. The floating technology has been successfully deployed in Norway, France, Portugal and China."

"Federal officials last year said California's offshore wind efforts would help combat climate change, lower consumer costs and create jobs. But the Trump administration has an aversion to climate efforts and to wind power in particular: On his first day in office, the president issued a memorandum halting offshore wind leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf and ordered officials to review all existing leases to look for legal grounds for termination."

California aims to develop 25 gigawatts of floating offshore wind by 2045, with five ocean leases off Humboldt and Morro Bay potentially yielding up to 10 gigawatts. The deployment could include about 1,600 turbines 20 to 50 miles offshore, supplying electricity for roughly 25 million homes and advancing the state's target of 100% carbon neutrality by 2045. Floating turbines are prioritized because Pacific depths prevent fixed foundations, and the technology has been used successfully in Norway, France, Portugal and China. Federal funding for the largest project was canceled, yet industry insiders, experts and officials continue pursuing the technology amid federal leasing halts and funding cuts.

Read at Los Angeles Times