2022 Energy Law Conference: Offshore Wind Development Blows Closer to Reality in California

Buoyed by support from state and federal government, wind energy development in federal waters off the California coast is poised to become a reality. Although construction and operation remain years away, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has designated two areas off California’s northern and central coasts for offshore wind development and is proceeding toward a lease sale auction this fall. At the state level, the California Energy Commission (CEC) will develop a strategic plan as required by Assembly Bill 525 (Chiu), a 2021 California law that directs the CEC to work with federal, state, and local agencies, stakeholders, and tribes to complete a strategic plan by June 30, 2023 for floating offshore wind energy development in federal waters off California’s coast. This panel occurs at an incredibly dynamic time, just weeks before the CEC is required by AB 525 to evaluate and quantify the maximum feasible capacity of offshore wind to achieve reliability, ratepayer, employment, and decarbonization benefits and establish megawatt offshore wind planning goals for 2030 and 2045, taking into account 12 statutorily enumerated factors. The megawatt planning goals are an initial step to developing the strategic plan and the offshore wind industry has commented to the CEC to “go big,” arguing that planning goals of 3 gigawatts by 2030 and 18 gigawatts by 2045 are necessary. This panel will bring lawyers up-to-speed on the hurricane of policy and regulatory processes that in the next fifteen years could support the establishment of an offshore wind industry that can play a significant role in achieving California’s energy and climate goals.

Speakers

• Eddie Ahn, Executive Director, Brightline Defense 
• Kourtney Vaccaro, Commissioner, California Energy Commission 
• Jennifer Miller, Acting Chief of the Renewable Energy Section, Pacific Regional Office,  Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the Interior

Moderator

• Dana Palmer, Partner, Allen Matkins LLP