Anonymous
Source: Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal
Rep. Carbajal today joined the White House in announcing an agreement on the size and scope of leasing to allow for offshore wind development off the coast of Morro Bay. The area available for offshore wind development would span 399 square miles, enough to produce 3GW of energy, which represents the largest proposed floating offshore wind project in the United States. A map can be found here.
“After years of negotiations between federal, state, and local partners I am thrilled to announce we have an agreement on the size and location of an offshore wind project that serves our environmental, energy, and national security interests. Offshore wind holds incredible promise as a means to tackle climate change while also creating economic opportunity, and the Central Coast is uniquely poised to reap the benefits,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This potential project will help secure the Central Coast’s dominance as a renewable energy powerhouse, which will attract new businesses and good paying, future-oriented jobs in a burgeoning sector of the economy. The future is in renewable energy, and the Central Coast is leading the way.”
The agreement, which identifies an area of development approximately 17-40 miles offshore of northern San Luis Obispo County, is the product of negotiations conducted by Rep. Carbajal’s Offshore Wind Working Group. The Working Group was created in August 2019 to coordinate between federal, state, and local partners and is composed of representatives from the offices of Rep. Carbajal and Rep. Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Navy, and California Energy Commission (CEC).
Negotiations had previously stalled amid hesitation from the Navy, until Rep. Carbajal offered an amendment to the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act in order to move the development forward off of Morro Bay and get negotiations back on track. Following the amendment’s passage, Carbajal secured a written commitment from the Navy indicating a willingness to collaborate with the Working Group to identify an area for development that would meet energy production goals.
The next phase of the process involves an environmental impact review and public comment period.
“I remain committed to working with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Department of the Interior to make sure the voices of local fishermen and all Central Coast residents are heard as this process moves forward,” said Rep. Carbajal.
“We applaud the Congressman’s leadership in brokering this opportunity to bring new forms of renewable energy and local jobs to the Central Coast region, cementing our role as a renewable energy innovation economy and pioneers of offshore wind on the west coast,” said Andrew Hackleman, Chief Operating Officer of REACH. “By bringing a minimum of 3GW of new energy development off the Central Coast, we have the potential to realize thousands of new jobs and multimillions in economic impact to our region by supplying the infrastructure and workforce to advance this burgeoning new industry all while helping the state and federal government meet their ambitious renewable energy goals.”
“This offshore wind agreement is a significant step in our efforts to address the climate crisis and offers ample opportunity to move the Central Coast and California towards its clean energy goals,” said Congressman Panetta. “I commend my colleague Congressman Carbajal and our Offshore Wind Working Group for the work done with local and federal partners to help reach this agreement. This action shows that we can make bold, green investments without sacrificing our local beauty or threatening wildlife, and I look forward to the growth that is ahead as the Central Coast stakes its claim as a renewable energy champion.”
“I am extremely excited that the efforts to bring offshore wind energy and jobs to the Central Coast appears to actually be becoming a reality. Offshore wind could help California reach its goal of achieving 60 percent production from renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent renewable and carbon-free electricity by 2045. Existing transmission infrastructure on the Central Coast is currently available to reliably deliver the output of both the Diablo Canyon Power Plant and the retired Morro bay Power plant,” said Morro Bay Mayor John Headding. “Offshore wind from the Central Coast is an opportunity for a source of clean energy in proximity to existing transmission infrastructure and energy consumers. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Congressman Carbajal and the Offshore Wind Working Group there now appears to be a pathway forward for the actual development of windfarms off of the Coast of Morro Bay.”
“I believe that a clean energy future is within our grasp in the United States, but it will take all of us and the best-available science to make it happen. Today’s announcement reflects months of active engagement and dedication between partners who are committed to advancing a clean energy future,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “The offshore wind industry has the potential to create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs across the nation, while combating the negative effects of climate change. Interior is proud to be part of an all-of-government approach toward the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitious renewable energy goals.”
“Tackling the climate crisis is a national security imperative and the Defense Department is proud to have played a role in this important effort,” said Dr. Colin Kahl, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. “The Defense Department is committed to working across the U.S. government to find solutions that support renewable energy in a manner compatible with important military operations. Throughout this effort, the Defense Department has worked with the White House, the Department of Interior and the State of California to find solutions that enable offshore wind development while preserving our ability to conduct testing, training and operations critical to our military readiness. The Defense Department supports this effort and looks forward to continued coordination to address the climate crisis.”
“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,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “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.”
Offshore wind is one component of a multi-pronged strategy to transform the Central Coast into a renewable energy hub. The Central Coast is already home to the California Valley Solar Ranch and Morro Bay could soon host the largest battery plant in the world. With the addition of an offshore wind project, the Central Coast is positioned to lead the country in renewable energy construction and output.
This transition toward renewable energy is vitally important as the Central Coast prepares for the job and energy losses that will follow the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant’s impending closure. Last year, Rep. Carbajal reintroduced the Energy Opportunity Zones Act which utilizes tax credits to encourage business growth and job creation in the renewable energy sector to offset those losses.
More information on the announcement is available here. Photos of Congressman Carbajal at the Morro Bay Coast Guard station are available here. Photos of Rep. Carbajal at a press conference in Port San Luis announcing the Energy Opportunity Zones Act are available here.
This is going to be a massive installation. If they use 3mw wind turbines, which are at least 500-600 feet tall with a blade diameter over 400 feet, it’s going to require about 1000 of them to get that 3gw output. 399 square miles translates to about 250,000 acres. To put that in perspective, the city of Santa Barbara occupies about 12,500 acres. If you thought the oil rigs were a blight on the oceanscape, they are a drop in the bucket compared to this wind project. As an additional point of comparison, the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant produces 2.2GW of power, regardless of the wind conditions day and night. The reactor complex occupies about 12 acres of land.
Chip you forgot to mention the super heated water that Diablo pumps out and the nuclear waste that needs to be trucked / stored somewhere for hundreds of years
Sounds like a great project. Less dependency on fossil fuels the better.
Chip you forgot to mention that these structures will be spewing out 5G Covid vaccine-Cancer
This is great. Wind, solar and hydropower are better in almost every conceivable way than fossil fuels. Cheaper, cleaner, require more high-paying and skilled jobs, not subject to market price fluctuations and boom/bust cycles. It’s phenomenal to see old dirty oil and coal companies that treat the earth and their employees like trash go the way of the horse and carriage.
Those massive blades have a lifespan of 8-10 years…(Coachella Valley wind farm and North Holland off shore farms) They cost MILLIONS to make and use tons of resource to manufacture… And taxpayers will be paying on both ends for the sake of GREEN.
How much does it cost to transport and store nuclear waste?
Diablo is designed to withstand an earthquake 10x greater than the highest magnitude possible on that fault line. Calm down.
Properly sealed nuclear waste is so safe I would personally volunteer to store it in my own backyard. But it might piss off the neighbors. Much ado about nothing.
Correct 4:26. The entire Diablo canyon property is nearly 1000 acres, and the actual power plant only occupies about 12 acres of that space. Very very compact for the amount of power it provides.
I also forgot to mention that natural gas power plants will need to be built that are capable of the same output as the wind turbines in order to keep the power on when the wind is off. In addition, enough natural gas power plants will need to be constructed to replace the output of Diablo canyon. It’s much less efficient and more costly to operate the gas plants and wind turbines in parallel than to simply run gas plants. Power bills will be going up, the middle class and the poor will feel the impact of the increased costs, the rich will get richer, and it won’t really do any good for the environment. At least these wind turbines will put a stop to all those pesky seabirds that make a mess of the waterfront.
Fukushima was designed to withstand an earthquake 10x greater than the highest magnitude possible on that fault line. Calm down.
“Properly Sealed Nuclear Waste” is an oxymoron. Also a good name for a rock band.
“I was also designed to withstand an earthquake 10x greater than the highest magnitude possible” – Sincerely Fukushima.
@ A-162 As I know someone in the industry, they NEVER last 10 yrs… There are always issues with the blades or internals, ESPECIALLY when in a coastal / corrosive environment- Even the one in the So Cal Deserts don’t go 10 yrs….
I too know someone in the industry and they do last twenty years. The materials used on offshore units are different than the ones used in the desert.
unbelievable…the Kennedy’s even blocked these off their coast but we can’t?? Thanks again Salud
Might wanna do your research. Fukushima reactor was affected (flooded) by a tsunami, not damaged by an earthquake. Fukushima was 20 feet above sea level. Diablo is 85.
Fukushima is also, uh, nowhere near the mindblowing disaster you seem to think it was. Might wanna research that, too.
Exactly. 12 acres. All the rest of protective open space. 12 acres provides about 9% of our state’s energy, carbon-free, ’round the clock, rain or shine.
GCHeadley, you sort of sound like whatever the environmental equivalent of an anti-vaxxer is. “Properly sealed nuclear waste” is not an oxymoron. You’re an intellectually dishonest scaremonger, or conspiracy theorist.
You’re concerned about how “employees” are treated? See this article about how the “green” industry treats its essential workers. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/are-children-e2-80-98dying-like-dogs-e2-80-99-in-effort-to-build-better-batteries/ar-AAKjcGb
Since they are going to be offshore anyways, perhaps they could just pitch the old blades over the side and call it an artificial reef/marine sanctuary after the 10-20 year service life is over
Are they less expensive to install, maintain, and operate than their land-based counterparts? I would think these would require some rather large watercraft, even if helicopters are employed. It does not seem to be a very practical way to get energy. Driving up Hwy 14/395 provides a unique way to observe the absolute ugliness of the windmills and solar panels. Does not seem like any eco folks were worried about the desert tortoises, scab-back spiders, desert night herons, or a multitude of other wildlife. Guess they’re only interested in the environment when the oil companies are “F-ing” up our deserts and oceans. Feelings/emotions vs non-politicized science/facts. Good example: Earth Day SB Style more plasticware than you can imagine, but no-no-no to plastic straws. Oh, and try to find a parking space within a six-seven block radius (and MTD is always free on Earth Day). What a hoot SB!
Nuclear plants produce nuclear waste. It lasts for thousands (not hundreds) of years and we have no place to store it. Look at Hanford for the damage it does to the environment. Fukishima is still a radioactive mess and the material it is discharging is almost permanently a threat to life. Nuclear energy seemed promising but the advocates did not disclose the backside. We need an energy source that will not destroy the world we have. The danger of nuclear outweigh the promises that have time and time again failed. At least with wind energy the worst that might happen is we have to dispose of the materials. We still can’t dispose of the residue of a 30 year failed nuclear facility. We can dispose of and recycle the stuff of windmills. I am willing to drive by these machines (which are pretty awesome to see) for the sake of a cleaner and safer world.
Look at the bright side! Those millions of seabirds killed by the windmills will provide abundant food for the fish.
For wind energy, once you’ve spent the initial money, the energy is essentially free for twenty years or more, as opposed to the huge and continuous costs of dealing with fission energy and waste.
Some good reads here, from the BBC, on recycling blades and bird strikes:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51325101
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200302-how-do-wind-farms-affect-bats-birds-and-other-wildlife
Remind me in 15 years when this turns out to be a terrible waste of money.
RHS: Bottom line is that I agree with most of what you say. The sad fact is that not many people truly care about the environment. The folks who drive older-model vehicles are doing more to save the planet than my tree-munching neighbor who’s had at least four “eco-friendly” cars over the past 20 years. And he/she believes that they are helping to save the planet. Far from it….drive an old gas-guzzling beater(that is able to pass a smog test) and you’re actually saving our precious resources. Four cars in less than 20 years….go munch on some pine nuts (they taste like pine nuts).
Wha? What is “5G Covid vaccine-cancer”? Sounds crazy to me.
This is idiocy.
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have nothing to do with wind turbines. But it’s pretty impressive you went all the way to MSN to find an article about corruption and suffering in Africa, then tenuously tie it to a far more general smear of renewable energy.
SACJON that’s funny!! I’ve driven a Prius for 15 years. Had solar installed on my homes for over 10 years ago. Next time anyone on here takes a vacation in Palm Springs. Stop and look around the wind mill farms. Tons of oils on the ground because they need lots of lubrication. Broken down windmills laying around in pieces. Do some research and you’ll see its not as green as presented.
SAIL380 – “Do some research,” indeed. That wind farm near Palm Springs is mismanaged and decrepit and was build back in 1982. 1982. Again, 1982. It is in no way indicative of the technology and equipment they will be using on the offshore project.
Do you enjoy looking at our island that are 20 miles offshore?
@SAIL380 : sure do! Great thing about this project is that it is north of Morro Bay, between 20 and 40 miles offshore and won’t obstruct anyone’s view of anything. Don’t be so fatalistic about it. It’s a great project and will provide some much needed energy for our state!
Sac, that same argument applies to nuclear power. All the doomsday examples are from plants built 50+ years ago and “is in no way indicative of the technology and equipment they will be using” if a modern nuclear plant was built today. Prior decision require $100’s of million in infrastructure to contain the nuclear reaction, modern designs require $100’s of million in infrastructure to keep the reaction going; if it fails, it stops on its own. Fukushima – built 1967. Chernobyl – 1970, Three Mile Island – 1968.
You make a really good point sail. I think Santa Cruz Island is a good reference point to compare this project to since it is a similar distance offshore. The wind towers will be about 600 feet tall, about 1/4 of the height of the highest peak on Santa Cruz Island, and they will occupy an area about four times the size of Santa Cruz Island.
Ok SACJON, I feel better now. Knowing this project will be properly managed and in 40 years it wont be an abandoned hazard!!! How about this for research. When I drive the 40 to Arkansas it goes through literally hundreds of miles of blinking red lights at night. During daylight you can see hundreds of miles of new design windmills leaking lube . If you want to go deer hunting with me this year and see for yourself give me a call.
Thanks for looking it up and not just dismissing another opinion. From shore the horizon is about 14 miles, so a 400′ windmill needs to be quite a ways out to not be visible from shore. At any elevation above sea level the distance substantially increases. I have seen Catalina from the 154, 60+ miles away. San Miguel island is 40ish miles off shore with a height of under 500′. The newer large windmills are about the same height and will be most visible at night when they will have flashing warning lights on.
Jon, your politics are in the right place. It always disappoints me to see you against nuclear. We need smart progressives to support nuclear. Unfortunately they’re too hard to find.
SBTOWNIE – never said I was anti nuclear, just very pro renewables.
Would like to hear more about how they are planning to mitigate the bird and insect kills that are a byproduct of these wind farms… I understand condors have been lost in California due to these things. That topic has mysteriously seemed to disappear from the discussions on this topic lately… Anyone else notice that?
Chillin, the article states that morro bay may soon host the largest battery bank in the world and includes the link below to an article about the proposed 600MW lithium ion battery installation. People often claim that batteries will be the key to allowing wind and solar to provide power when its not windy or sunny. I think people need to be aware of the humanitarian and environmental impacts of these types of projects. https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/worlds-largest-energy-storage-system-proposed-in-morro-bay
Baby, you must be talking about the costs of manufacturing cars as compared to the greenhouse emissions they emit, right? Your arguments are usually not very clear. Is it your assertion that climate change is not a threat to our world?
And you thought the offshore oil wells were unsightly.
So many negative comments! For those who are concerned about ruining the views, many of these wind turbines will be out of view. For those who are concerned about birds, and only stupid birds will fly near the turbines. Eliminating Power plants that use fossil fuel or nuclear is more important to our planet’s future than the impacts associated with wind energy.
Babycakes – “Are they”, “I would think”, “It does not seem” So what you are saying is that you know nothing about the subject but continue typing anyway?
Have family working in the industry and specifically on many wind projects. They can last twenty years – but usually get upgraded at 10-12 as more efficient blades are developed.
The same people here complaining about birds are the same ones that cry every time there is an article about a beach getting cordoned off for a pair of nesting snow plover.
BABYCAKES – offshore wind turbines don’t spill millions of gallons of crude oil. Also the “ugliness” is all politics. I bet you think oil derricks and pumps and pipelines are beautiful, don’t you? These things will produce FAR more CLEAN energy than land based ones along our coast. Just admit it, you hate wind and all renewable energy only because your party told you its bad. The only UGLY thing here is the abject hate and lies being spread about clean energy. The rest of the modern world is using it, so how are you too good for it now?
GENERALTREE – it’s funny, isn’t it, how conservatives/republicans/Trumpers, etc all become instantly “care” about the environment whenever renewable energy is brought up.
Won’t obstruct anyone’s view? I guess your not anyone if you live north of Point Conception. Most people underestimate the distance to the islands. 20 to 40 miles is the distance to our closest islands. I would bet 1% of the readers here have ever been to that part of the ocean. Arguably one of the roughest patches of ocean around. Much needed energy and jobs could come from installation and maintenance of solar on the roofs of homes and businesses. Most businesses use the most power during the day when the sun shines. What happens to all the excess power at night. Oh that’s right, sell it to everyone else that’s asleep!!
For those complaining about the sight of these modern marvels, did any of you actually look at the map? These will be 20 miles offshore from Cambria. You won’t see the turbines unless you’re out at sea.
As for bird strikes, again, no one here does the research, just complains. There are entire companies devoted to developing bird/bat/insect deterrent technology. It’s absolutely amazing how huge this industry is.
It’s amazing that power sources that don’t contribute to climate change, like nuclear and hydroelectric dams, are considered so evil now. Watch your back wind & solar. Future generations will be be gunning for you.
Again bringing in political parties into a discussion not about politic parties. But that’s you two’s MO isn’t it? If they don’t agree with me 100% they’re a Trumper!
VOR – buzz off troll. It’s not about Trump. It’s about people who normally don’t really care much about the environment (see Paris Accord, pro-coal, pro-oil exploration in arctic reserves, anti-climate change, etc etc), all of a sudden pretending to be concerned about the environment when wind projects get proposed. Who are those people? Not liberals, I’ll tell you that.
Quit this while you’re ahead, it’s not about politics, it’s about hypocrisy at its highest.
FERNALD – with all due respect, nuclear power has some serious and dangerous downsides, wind and solar do not. Hydro? Not sure why that is considered evil other than disrupting wildlife. We need renewable energy NOW if we are going to make it as a planet. The reliance on coal and oil is archaic and is crippling our foreign policy. If America truly wants to be great, we need to produce our own energy. Wind and solar help, we just need to let them try.
JB do you have any evidence for the claim of millions of bird deaths?
someone must have hacked your account then, you literally just posted it – “how conservatives/republicans/Trumpers, etc all become instantly “care” about the environment whenever renewable energy is brought up”
VOR – “If they don’t agree with me 100% they’re a Trumper!” – where did I say that? Nope, didn’t. Just pointing out the hypocrisy of those are usually on the right (all those included) who cry and moan about any effort to protect the environment, becoming overnight “environmentalists” when it comes to wind and solar.
VOR – reading comprehension, work on it.
And it’s interesting how may covidiots are winidiots.
VOR – maybe try contributing to the conversation instead of bragging about your 7 year old trying to read.
Fern, given how things are going, it is pretty optimistic that future generations will be gunning for anything except basic survival. The recent gas hoarding on the east coast gives you an idea of how that will turn out.
We’ve established that the COVIDIOTS were the ones who thought the fatality rate was 5%…then 3%…and now still saying 1.8%.
So I think what you meant to say was that many COVIDIOTS are for wind…as well as many people (including the DUKE here) who understand and corrected people about COVID and are also for wind.
The majority of wind farm batteries are deep-cycle AGM, made of fiberglass and lead. This installation is lithium-ion, using the cobalt you’re objecting to. Maybe since you’re on an anti-capitalist tangent against exploiting natural resources from 3rd-world countries you can explain how many countries are ruined or will be ruined by fossil fuels. Here’s a start: all of the Middle East, Venezuela, Nigeria, Angola, Algeria, Libya. Yes, even the Congo which you’re so concerned about has corruption and armed groups fighting over control of oil. It’s hilarious that the cons have gone so far into delusion that they’re starting to sound like liberals. It’s almost like something is inherently wrong with capitalism or something…lmao
Nuclear plants are probably targeted by nuclear-armed nations, right? That’s a 2 for one destruction target.
The bottom line to this project is in the first sentence of the news release. Salud’s looking to lease out ocean space. There hoping someone will buy the incredibly expensive lease and pass the cost to the consumer.
Sounds good in theory. Unfortunately they cant even leave the established ecosystem structure in place when oil rigs are removed.
“sounds good in theory” – accurate description of just about every piece of legislation passed in CA the past decade.
I wonder what all the environmental impacts of this development will be.