AB 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan

Abstract

Assembly Bill 525 (Chiu, Chapter 231, Statutes of 2021) directs the California Energy Commission (CEC) to complete and submit a strategic plan for offshore wind development in federal waters off the California coast to the California Natural Resources Agency and the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the State Legislature.

This strategic plan is the last of four work products the CEC is directed to prepare by AB 525. The strategic plan consists of three volumes: Volume I is an overview report, Volume II is the main report, and Volume III contains the technical appendices. Over 500 pages of public comment on the Draft Strategic Plan, along with numerous comments throughout the AB 525 report development process, are available at the California Offshore Renewable Energy Docket, 17-MISC-01.

In preparing the strategic plan, the CEC coordinated with federal, state, and local agencies and a wide variety of interested parties. As required by AB 525, this strategic plan identifies suitable sea space to accommodate California’s offshore wind planning goals, includes a discussion of economic and workforce development and port space and infrastructure, and assesses transmission investments, upgrades, and associated costs. In addition, this strategic plan presents the permitting processes for offshore wind facilities and identifies potential impacts on coastal resources, fisheries, Native American and Indigenous peoples, underserved communities, and national defense. The plan also outlines potential strategies that could address possible impacts such as avoidance, minimization, monitoring, mitigation, and adaptive management.