The purpose of this page is to collate current information about offshore wind planning in California, and to make the information as accessible as possible to ocean users, stakeholders, and anyone else interested in the future of California offshore wind.
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Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Dep’t of Interior |
California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force BOEM convenes an intergovernmental task force to gather and share information relevant to the California OSW planning process. Task Force members include elected officials, tribal representatives, and state and federal agencies. |
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California Energy Commission The state’s energy policy and planning agency, responsible for climate-change related programs including energy efficiency and renewable energy procurement. |
California State Lands Commission
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California Department of Fish & Wildlife |
Ocean Protection Council, California Natural Resources Agency |
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Governor’s Office of Planning & Research |
California Public Utilities Commission |
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California Independent System Operator (CAISO) |
U.S. Dep’t of Defense |
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U.S. Coast Guard |
U.S. Dep’t of Energy |
California Energy Commission (CEC) |
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The California Energy Commission, or CEC, is the state’s energy policy and planning agency, and is responsible for climate-change related programs including energy efficiency and renewable energy procurement. Under AB 525, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is the coordinating state agency, charged with developing a strategic plan and other analyses related to offshore wind for California. Among other things, the CEC is charged with 1) analyzing and quantifying the maximum feasible offshore wind capacity for California to achieve benefits for ratepayers, employment, decarbonization, and reliability; 2) establish offshore wind energy planning goals for 2030 and 2045; 3) assess the economic benefits of offshore wind as they relate to seaport investments and workforce development needs and standards; and 4) finalize a strategic plan to develop offshore wind energy
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U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) |
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The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, is the department within the U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for managing development of the nation’s offshore energy resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. BOEM promotes energy independence, environmental protection, and economic development through responsible, science-informed management of offshore energy resources.
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| BOEM’s Leasing Process |
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Source: BOEM presentation, CEC Workshop on AB 525 and CA Offshore Wind, March 3, 2022 |
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Terminology Snapshot—What is the difference between BOEM “Call Areas” and “Wind Energy Areas”? |
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BOEM awards leases through an auction system. BOEM starts by identifying areas that have potential for wind development, which it designates as call areas. If there is sufficient interest from commercial developers and once public comment has taken place, BOEM denotes a call area with sufficient promise as a wind energy area, for which BOEM can hold a future lease sale. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Federal leasing for offshore wind grows as first U.S. offshore wind farm comes online,” (Dec. 2, 2016), available at https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=28992 |