Local Electricity Provider and Offshore Wind Developers Hail New State Law
Press release from Redwood Coast Energy Authority:
New legislation just signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom will significantly advance the development of an offshore wind power industry on the West Coast, especially in Humboldt County, say developers of a proposed local project and the area’s Community Choice Aggregator (CCA).
The legislation, AB 525, which was approved nearly unanimously by the California Legislature earlier this month, directs California state agencies to develop a strategic plan to facilitate the development of offshore wind on a large scale over the next two decades.
California law states that, by 2045, 100 percent of electricity consumed in California must come from carbon-free sources. One study has suggested offshore wind has the potential to generate electricity in an amount equal to 150 percent of California’s electricity usage in 2019. Further, offshore wind is the perfect complement to solar generation in California as ocean winds pick up in the early evening when the sun begins to set.
“This new law shows California is now fully committed to developing an offshore wind industry that can create local jobs, advance towards a carbon-free electric system, and address the threat of climate change,” said Tyler Studds, chief executive officer of Redwood Coast Offshore Wind (ROW).
ROW is a 50-50 joint venture between two international offshore wind developers, Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind, in partnership with the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). RCEA is a CCA formed by nine local government entities with a mandate to procure clean and renewable power for Humboldt County electricity customers.
Earlier this year, Newsom and the Biden administration announced they expect to hold an auction in 2022 for leases off both the Humboldt Coast and the Central Coast near Morro Bay. These areas combined could produce 4.6 GW of offshore wind energy and power 1.6 million California homes.
“This legislation and the support it received underscores the wisdom of RCEA engaging early to work toward the responsible development of our local offshore wind resource,” said Matthew Marshall, executive director of RCEA. “We are taking a community-based approach to developing Humboldt County’s offshore wind resource that prioritizes community values, protecting the environment, and developing strategies to avoid or mitigate impacts to the fishing community and local Tribes, while creating jobs and economic development.” ROW has already actively engaged a host of local stakeholders, including fisheries, labor, and Tribal governments to understand their concerns and explore solutions.
Deploying wind turbines offshore, where they will be placed on floating platforms so they can operate in deep water, will require significant investments and upgrades to the Port of Humboldt Bay that can also benefit other port users. Once the port is upgraded and as the industry develops, other parts of the offshore wind supply chain could locate facilities in Humboldt County and elsewhere in California. In July, the Humboldt Bay Harbor and Recreation District submitted a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation Port Infrastructure Development Program to fund the development of a Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind and Heavy Lift Marine Terminal.
“This law provides much-needed certainty around the future of offshore wind in California and will spur significant upgrades in port and grid infrastructure,” said Jonah Margulis, senior vice president of US operations for Aker Offshore Wind. “We look forward to creating a robust, sustainable offshore wind industry in Northern California that will serve the community with reliable, clean energy and well-paying jobs for decades to come.”
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Newsom should put these right outside Frisco bay. Why and how did they choose Humboldt? Out of sight, out of mind. I can’t stand that guy. Him and Biden decided, so its okay.
Them “fixing” the harbor is a joke. All those parts will be shipped out there,not trucked. Our roads are too narrow to haul that stuff.
So much wrong with this……
Where of the coast will we see these wind mill be located?
you are correct, I would just add that if these are made in China, that is awful, and how many more birds will die? Very sad. Both Newsom and Biden are in China’s pocket, along with the guy who slept with the Chinese spy.
How fast will the wind turbines corrode in that salty air? Plus those things leak oil like crazy. Can’t recycle the propellers because of stress cracks. Those are not as “green”as they appear ..
The United States is the 2nd highest producer of wind power electricity in the world. over 122.32 G.W. of electricity. Turbines are relatively low maintenance, required 2 to 3 times a year. Yes the initial cost are high but the benefits far out way the costs. As far as infrastructure goes, that is pretty much in place, as seen by the power line towers along the Samoa peninsula. Here along the coast we have steady winds. So a constant power supply. The United Kingdom has 2,300 off shore wind turbines, and at times has produced half their electric needs thru wind power. What do you suggest? Nuclear, yes lets crank back up the Humboldt Bay nuke plant. More coal plants? More dams to kill off our salmon and steelhead runs? The negative options far out way the positive.
I used to be a proponent of green hydrogen, however, it takes a lot of energy to make it, then store it and transfer it. While green hydrogen could still be a possible solution, Cold fusion is the hot ticket, in my opinion. Check out this website it will blow your mind, and hopefully your thought process will head in a different direction.
https://cfs.energy/
A wind turbine cost about 4 million, and only produces about 30% of its peak output. Electricity needs to be ran to the turbine, to control the breaks, and computer mechanism. Propellers have a top speed and then pitch is flattened out and breaks are applied to prevent the propeller from taking off. In order to freewheel, energy must be applied to the propellor. They are very complicated and require more energy than you think. Also it takes about 20 years for the machine to pay for itself, but the machines only last about 4 years.
The only way wind turbines are possible right now is because govt is giving rebates to offset the high costs.
Otherwise the cost/ benefit analysis would not pencil out
The direct conversion of fusion energy into heat is not possible because of energy and momentum conservation and the laws of special relativity. Energetic particles and their secondary effects should be easily detectable if the claimed levels of excess power were the result of fusion reactions. . The typical life span of a wind turbine is 20 years, with routine maintenance required every six months
https://www.google.com/amp/s/stopthesethings.com/2020/06/15/how-long-do-wind-turbines-last-10-years-or-until-the-subsidies-run-out-whichever-occurs-first/amp/
The truth about wind turbines!
A good quality, modern wind turbine will generally last for 20 years, although this can be extended to 25 years or longer depending on environmental factors and the correct maintenance procedures being followed. The truth is like the Sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away. Elvis Presley. I stand by my comment.
Well, ya know…it’s much more popular to talk about new “green” energy sources to exploit than to do that boring, boring talk about conservation (and maybe even mention overpopulation and the obvious resulting overconsumption). People DO NOT want to hear about keeping daylight hours or turning off their TV shows or living in less energy-consumptive ways. Boring!! So yeah- we’re all going to have electric cars and use wind turbines to power our “necessities” and nobody has to change their habits at all- Win win win!! LOL
Conservation has been the bedrock of CA’s energy plan since the late 70s.
It has been talked about till blue in the face for decades.
Many people don’t engage.
Check out CEC. CA Energy Commission.
They are continually advancing real options for meeting advancing conservation goals.
Otherwise we would have manufacturers continued drag ass advancement of products.
The history of and current availability of energy reduction rebates is a major testament to this.
Why do you think that the CA population has nearly doubled since 1980, but “somehow” we still haven’t built even 1 more large centralized thermal/electricity generating/conversion station since then?
Conservation.
Without the conservation that has already occured most people in CA would be choking on far more combustion byproducts than already are now.
While millions have engaged, many people just won’t engage in conservation for whatever reason…”some” of it is politicized drivel/rhetoric.
Most just want to pay and be served. Those are the blind consumers…not engaged citizens.
Without electricity we will not have a “modern” society.
Anyone’s household use less power than the avg CA house (~6250kWh)?
Anyone’s household use less power than the avg CA house (~6250kWh)?
Considering how averages work, yes, a lot of homes do use less than the average. Without pulling out our bill, I’d bet hard money we are one of those under the average, and that hard earned money means a whole lot more to us than those using over the average. If I was to boast, our one could bring two others down to the average. Less than 700 square feet of living space. We actually turn off lights when not in rooms. We don’t look like some compound or power plant like most of our neighbors trying to be seen from space in their Better Homes and Garden houses. And we sure as heck don’t leaves lights on all night. We don’t go all Griswold with Christmas lights, though, we do geek out some at Halloween, but, most of those lights are battery or solar. We also run what we can at non-peak hours, not that that saves power, but it does save a bit of cash. Like I said regarding the water issue on other threads, I don’t know how we could use less if we were mandated to. But, I sure do thank every household in eye and arrow shot for raising my pge stock.
Humboldt has a very dependable and consistent wind resource. These studies have been ongoing for >40yrs.
Per shipping, that’s why the harbor has to be retrofited/upgraded…so they can both receive and deploy the blades from the harbor.
It’s not currently setup to handle this size of equipment.
With a little due diligence most of these questions are readily answered with fact and track records from existing systems.
Best to do some, rather than poopoo straight out the gate.
Most, if not all, of these turbines will be over the horizon, as viewed from shore.
Don’t confuse them with facts, it causes them to run into walls.
I am afraid I entirely agree with you!! Both are blowhards and create enough wind to power several hundred wind turbines.
Looks like a big pelican and sea gull chopper
At least the dead birds will feed the fish. Cars kill far more critters than wind turbines. Should we stop using cars? Ah…. so many questions.
Sometime we will have to consider world overpopulation.
Bill gates is on that
(Sighs) 20 mile off shore wind turbines & platforms is going to be a maintenance disaster. If it comes to pass, Humboldt Bay may be bustling doing continual repair on them. There will also need to be huge powerlines running out of Humboldt county.
By the way, likely the greenies won’t stand for offshore anyway… might provoke whale suicides (or some such).
Pending any developments on ‘fusion power’ (or some other ‘new’ technology)… electricity is going to be mega-expensive.
The maintenance is a known factor and is already accounted for. No disaster needed.
The powerlines are already there.
Wind is one of the cheaper generation options available now.
Thr main question is how will these tower platforms be moored?
The continental shelf is much deeper here than most places.
I can imagine the floating platforms will require some serious ballast to keep the turbines upright during major winds. And now that I’m picturing it, the mast(?) and blades themselves will be changing angle constantly as they ride the swells. I’m sure it’s all figured out since they are already in use elsewhere, but, it sounds like an engineer’s nightmare.
What about the sacred ancestral fish burial grounds? Your going to piss off the first arriving fish.
did you post pretty much the same (long) post twice? Doing that clutters up the thread while adding nothing.
>”Turbines are relatively low maintenance, required 2 to 3 times a year.”
Well the turbines probably won’t require more maintenance… but the support structures and undersea cabling will. Have you ever taken care of anything in marine environment before ? It is a constant hassle.
Salt, rust and corrosion… and lots of energy from the environment.
>”… that is pretty much in place, as seen by the power line towers along the Samoa peninsula”
Nope… Powerlines out on the beach don’t go that far. They blend into normal PG&E wiring up and down Humboldt Bay. Bigger thing is powerlines going in and out of Humboldt County.
In order to supply a chunk of ‘California’ it will require XX more powerlines, not just on the beach, but extended infrastructure in and out of Humboldt County. I dunno what the XX is, but it will probably be 20x – 50x or more. May research it.
>”What do you suggest? nuclear, yea lets crank back up the Humboldt Bay nuclear plant.”
Not really. It was built astride a fault zone. Best thing is that somebody will perfect fusion power in the next 20 years. But that might not happen, they’ve been working on it for about 50 years.
>”More dams to kill off our salmon and steelhead runs.”
You might be assuming that the er… the ‘normal’ rains will start again ?
If they don’t resume… there is no hope for Salmon runs… (or Dope farms either).
And the Humboldt Bay power plant is built on a earthquake fault. Really. I did not know that. I have lived here since 1978 and have never felt an earthquake here.
And do you mean the power lines that handled the 65 MWe produced by the old Humboldt Bay nuclear power plant that operated between 1963 and 1976?. Those power lines?
“the direct conversion of fusion energy into heat is not possible because of energy and momentum conservation and the laws of special relativity.”
Your kidding… right ? Why don’t you step outside into the sunshine !
Ah yes, solar power. Another good energy source to go along with wind power. Glad you brought it up. There is currently no accepted theoretical model that would allow cold fusion to occur.
With electric vehicles on the rise, there will be a lot more energy consumption. 4.6GW will power 1.6 million homes, or, almost 4 DeLorean flux capacitors at 1.21GW each. We have some hard choices to make.
Dilithium crystals are rapidly replacing flux capacitors.
Unless “green” energy becomes much more efficient or there are wind and solar farms all over the place there is no way California will be completely on renewable power by 2045 especially if California keeps pushing electric cars. Get ready for massive rolling blackouts, not being able to charge your car or drive because of blackouts. It’s a disaster in the making.
Yay!!
I want this