Offshore wind energy on California’s Central Coast

235 Atascadero Road,Morro Bay CA 93442

04 May, 2023

Description

After an auction in December, three companies bid a collective $425.6 million to lease a total of 376 square miles of the Pacific Ocean off San Luis Obispo County’s coast for floating offshore wind energy development. The area, located about 20 miles off the coast of San Simeon and Cambria, could generate about 6 gigawatts of electricity at peak production, according to the three entities who won the leases: Central California Offshore Wind, Equinor Wind US and Invenergy California Offshore. The massive floating wind energy developments will require certain port infrastructure to support the various ships servicing crews, materials and equipment. Does San Luis Obispo County have what it takes to support this new energy industry along its coast? How will it tie into the statewide port infrastructure to make this happen? What are the environmental impacts, economic costs and benefits, and regulatory hurdles involved with building out the county’s port infrastructure? The San Luis Obispo Tribune will discuss this with a panel of experts on May 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Morro Bay High School’s auditorium. Tribune reporter Mackenzie Shuman will moderate the discussion. The panelists are: California State Senator John Laird, D-Santa CruzCalifornia State Lands Commission staff member, Jennifer MattoxREACH Central Coast CEO Melissa JamesThe event is free to attend. There may also be time for in-person audience questions at the end of the panel discussion. In addition to the in-person panel, the Q&A will be streamed on The Tribune’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Watch the livestream here.