Biden Administration Calls For Opening California Coast To Wind Energy Projects

San Diego CA

26 May, 2021

3:55 PM

Description

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego May 26, 2021 The White House announced preliminary plans Tuesday to develop two giant wind energy farms off the coast of California. Sites off Morro Bay in Central California and the city of Eureka in Northern California could produce up 4.6 gigawatts of electricity — slightly more than the now decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. "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," said Gov. Gavin Newsom after the White House announcement. Because the outer continental shelf falls away quickly into much deeper water in the Pacific, new floating offshore turbines would be deployed to keep the equipment out of sight from the coast. The Department of Energy has invested more than $100 million in researching, developing, and demonstrating floating offshore wind technology. Tuesday's announcement comes just weeks after the Biden administration approved the first major offshore wind project in American waters — a wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts, powering 400,000 homes. Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.