California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation authorising the Port of Long Beach to speed up the design and construction of Pier Wind.
According to the port, Pier Wind is a proposed 400-acre facility for the assembly and deployment of floating offshore wind turbines.
Assembly Bill 2235, written by Assembly member Josh Lowenthal, will lower costs and shorten the schedule for completing the planned Pier Wind project, which would be the largest facility of its kind in the US and would help California reach its renewable energy targets.
Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, said: “We now have the ability to plan and build Pier Wind in a way that is smarter, faster and more cost-effective, thanks to Gov. Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly member Josh Lowenthal guiding this critical legislation to approval.
“Pier Wind will help the state meet climate goals, create jobs and economic opportunities for local communities, and establish a new green energy industry along the West Coast.”
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Long Beach Harbor Commission President, Bonnie Lowenthal, stated: “The Port of Long Beach is the ideal location for this project, given our connections to robust transportation networks and our access to the state’s largest manufacturing base and construction and marine workforce.”
The port can design and build Pier Wind using alternative construction delivery techniques under AB 2235.
In addition to providing new renewable energy jobs in Southern California, Pier Wind would reportedly allow other supply chain industries to create jobs in support of offshore wind projects on the West Coast, including manufacturing, assembly, operations, and maintenance.
The bill, supported by the Port of Long Beach, passed the state Senate and Assembly in August 2024.
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According to the Port of Long Beach, Pier Wind would enable the staging, storage, and assembly of some of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, standing as tall as the Eiffel Tower.
The fully assembled turbines would be towed by sea from the Port of Long Beach to wind leasing areas 20 to 30 miles off the coast of Central and Northern California, assisting the state and federal governments in meeting their renewable energy targets.
Local, state, and federal regulatory agencies are reportedly conducting a detailed environmental evaluation of the planned project while the Port of Long Beach solicits community feedback.
If approved, building on the $4.7 billion project could begin as early as 2027, with the first 200 acres completed in 2031 and the final 200 acres going online in 2035.
