Help Create Over 17,000 Jobs and Power 3.5 Million Homes with California Offshore Wind

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Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173,
Sacramento, CA 95814

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Dear Governor Newsom,

We, the undersigned elected officials, support the responsible development of offshore wind for California to create jobs, lead America’s clean energy transition, and protect our state from the worst impacts of the climate emergency.

California’s current dependence on dirty and dangerous fossil fuel production is making our state and planet less safe. From ever-worsening droughts and wildfires that are devastating our communities to the estimated 34,000 Californians who die each year from fossil fuel pollution, the urgency for ending the era of fossil fuels is clear. In the wake of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, we must act on the scale and speed that science demands to address the escalating climate emergency, protect public health, and end systemic environmental racism caused by fossil fuel pollution.1

Responsible development of California’s offshore wind resources is imperative to reach our statewide goal of 100% clean power by 2045, while creating thousands of high-skilled jobs, reducing demand for polluting fossil fuels, and protecting our marine resources and coastal communities.2

Thank you for your leadership in proposing an additional $45 million for investments to prepare waterfront facilities in California to support floating offshore wind energy development in federal waters off the coast. We encourage you to support and implement the recommendations within California Energy Commission’s (CEC) May, 2022 report issued in response to the offshore wind law AB 525, which you signed into law after it passed with nearly-unanimous bipartisan support. The goals set out in the report, including generating 3 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030 and 18 GW to 20 GW by 2045, which would enable California to reach 100% renewable power by 2045.3

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates California’s technical potential for offshore wind power at well over 100 GW.4 NREL estimates that building 10 GW of offshore wind power in California would support thousands of jobs, supply competitively priced power5 for at least 3.5 million homes, and generate $20 billion in GDP by 2050.6

California can become America’s offshore wind powerhouse by exporting clean, renewable wind power to other states. A report by Environment California Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group, found that California could provide 157 percent of our state’s 2019 electricity usage with offshore wind alone.7

By meeting our electricity needs through clean, pollution-free offshore wind energy, California can deliver air quality improvements to frontline communities. About 78 percent of our gas power plants reside in communities identified by CalEPA as having the state’s highest burden of poverty and cumulative environmental health burdens.8 Typically these are Black and Brown communities that suffer from fossil fuel production and factories that spew toxins, which have been strategically located in their communities because they were redlined decades ago.

California has an incredible opportunity to create more than 17,500 good-paying jobs by 2045 and improve air quality in frontline communities due to the Biden administration opening up roughly 399 square miles off the central coast region, northwest of Morro Bay, and advancing the Humboldt Call Area as a potential Wind Energy Area for offshore wind.9,10,11

Support for offshore wind development in California is growing rapidly, with wide support among labor unions, industry, and environmental groups.12To ensure the economic benefits of offshore wind are shared equitably, frontline communities must be included in the manufacturing, development, and generation of offshore wind power. Thousands of shovel-ready union jobs will be created, as well as port revitalization, which alone can add up to 6,000 local, full-time equivalent jobs per port right away, according to a report from Brightline Defense.13

Investing in offshore wind will generate thousands of additional jobs in construction, manufacturing, turbine demonstration, and transmission line projects as well as create a pathway for some oil workers to transition to this new vibrant industry. Apprenticeship training programs will add new career pathways for trade workers. These opportunities will also prepare the state’s workforce to build, operate and maintain a 100% clean energy electricity grid.14

To avert the most catastrophic effects of the climate emergency, we must heed the International Energy Agency’s report warning that governments must immediately stop new oil and gas production.15 Responsible offshore wind development is crucial to transitioning California to 100% clean energy.

California can lead our nation in developing America’s offshore wind power, which has the potential to meet 90% of total U.S. energy demand by 2050.16

We’re at the vanguard of a new clean, renewable energy industry that will generate thousands of jobs, create prosperity for our communities, improve our health, and help protect our coastlines.  Offshore wind is essential for a prosperous, healthy, and just future for California.

Sincerely,

Members, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) California

NameElected Position of TitleElected Municipal of District
Martha Camacho RodriguezCentral Basin Municipal Water District DirectorDistrict 1
Doug LinneyPresidentEast Bay Municipal Utility District
Felicia WilliamsCouncilmemberPasadena
Robert RaburnDirectorDirector
John RizzoTrusteeCity College of San Francisco
Angie Reyes EnglishCouncil MemberHawthorne
Jorgel ChavezMayorBell Gardens
Salvador Solorio-RuizVice MayorDelano
Michael McCorristonMayorCity of Dublin
Kyle RichardsCity CouncilmemberGoleta
Michael VargasMayorPerris
Hung WeiCouncil MemberCity of Cupertino
Salvador MelendezMayorMontebello
Rebeca ArmendarizCouncilmemberGilroy
Neftali GalarzaCouncil MemberCoachella
Sergio LopezMayor, City of CampbellCity of Campbell
Victor AguilarCouncil MemberSan Leandro
Justin CummingsSupervisorSanta Cruz
Shebreh Kalantari-JohnsonVice MayorSanta Cruz
R. Rex ParrisMayorLancaster
Claudia JimenezVice MayorRichmond
Gayle McLaughlinCouncil MemberCity of Richmond CA, District 5
Joe LaCavaCouncilmemberSan Diego
Eric AlegriaCouncilmemberRancho Palos Verdes
D'Lynda FischerCouncilmemberPetaluma
Mike HealyCouncilmemberPetaluma
Dennis PocekayCouncilmemberPetaluma
Susan SonneCouncil MemberBuena Park, CA
Mike BoninCity CouncilmemberLos Angeles
Paul KoretzCouncilmemberLos Angeles
Cristina ArriolaCity CouncilDistrict 6
Tygarjas BigstyckCouncil MemberPacifica
Glenn McGourtySupervisorMendocino County
Ian OglesbyMayorSeaside
Alexis García-ArrazolaCouncilmemberCity of Seaside
Serge DedinaMayorImperial Beach
Andy KatzDirectorEast Bay Municipal Utility District
Igor TregubCouncilmemberCity of Berkeley
Terry TaplinCouncilmemberBerkeley
Preston JordanCouncil MemberAlbany
Kevin WilkMayor Pro TemWalnut Creek
Neal LattDirectorHumboldt Bay Municipal Water District
Chris RicciCouncil MemberCity of Modesto
Steve TrujilloTrusteeCabrillo community college district , district 7
Evelyn ZneimerMayorSouth Pasadena
Gabriel QuintoMayor Pro TemEl Cerrito
Ariel KelleyCouncil MemberCity of Healdsburg
Lisa SchmidtVice MayorLos Altos Hills
Justin MasseyCity CouncilmemberCity of Hermosa Beach
Otto LeeBoard Vice PresidentCounty of Santa Clara
Harvey RarbackVice MayorHalf Moon Bay
Deborah PenroseCouncilmemberHalf Moon Bay
Stacy Atkins-SalazarCouncilmemberCity of Arcata
Rob RennieCouncil MemberLos gatos
Daniel LeeFormer MayorCulver City
Henry LevyTreasurer-Tax Collector/Pension Plan TrustedAlameda County
Rebecca KaplanCouncilmember At-largeOakland
Rebecca SaltzmanPresidentBay Area Rapid Transit
Al ClarkCouncil MemberCarpinteria
Phil BrockCouncilmemberSanta Monica
Marcia GuthrieCouncil MemberPismo Beach
Barbara ColerCouncil MemberFairfax
Eli BeckmanCouncil MemberCorte Madera
Felipe PerezCouncil MemberCity of Firebaugh
Ali TajMayorCity of Artesia
Adam CarranzaBoard MemberMountain View School District
Sydney Kamlager-DoveState SenatorDistrict 30
Norma Martínez-RubinCouncil MemberPinole
Norma AlcalaCouncil Member1
Martha GuerreroMayorWest Sacramento
Natalie ArroyoCounty SupervisorEureka
Loren TaylorCouncilmemberOakland
Margaret Abe-KogaSupervisorMountain View
Kara TaylorCouncilmemberPlacerville
Lindsey HorvathSupervisorWest Hollywood
Lauren MeisterCouncil MemberWest Hollywood
Jennifer Torres-O'CallaghanCouncil MemberLathrop
Joan HartmannThird District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan HartmannCounty of Santa Barbara
John HeaddingFmr. MayorMorro Bay
Jim ProvenzaCounty SupervisorYolo County
John D'AmicoCouncilmemberWest Hollywood
Erica StewartMayorSan Luis Obispo
Frank AxeSupervisorAmador County
Frank YokoyamaCouncil MemberCerritos
Gary BradfordBoard Chair4th District
Dan GjerdeSupervisorDistrict Four
Diana MahmudMayorSouth Pasadena
Dianne MartinezCouncilmemberEmeryville
Don SaylorCounty SupervisorYolo County
Das WilliamsSupervisorSanta Barbara County
Eduardo De La RivaMayorMaywood
Daniel BrotmanCouncil memberCity of Glendale
Deborah CoxCouncilmemberSan Leandro
David CohenCouncil MemberSan Jose District 4
Tyron HamptonCouncilmemberPasadena
Catherine BlakespearMayorEncinitas
Sue BeckmeyerMayor Pro TemCity of Pacifica
Bryan OsorioCouncil MemberDelano
Alma BeltranMayorFresno County
Ahmad ZahraCouncil MemberCity of Fullerton
Alison HicksCouncil MemberMountain View
Ann SchneiderMayorMillbrae
Bert PerelloCouncil MemberOxnard
Paul FadeliCouncilmemberEl Cerrito
Paula PerotteMayorCity of Goleta
Rick DeGoliaCouncil MemberAtherton
Rigel RobinsonCouncilmemberBerkeley
Scott BauerCouncilmemberEureka
Sofia RubalcavaMayorSan Buenaventura
Steve YoungMayorBenicia
Teresa OnodaVice Mayor of MoragaMoraga
Wes SpeakeCouncil MemberCorona District 5
Jonathan AbboudTrusteeSanta Barbara Community College District
charles varniOceano Community Services DistrictOCSD
Shanthi GonzalesBoard MemberOakland Unified School District
Laura SantosTrusteeMt San Antonio College
Jose GurrolaMayorArvin
Eduardo MartinezMayorRichmond
Xilonin Cruz-GonzalezPast PresidentCalifornia School Boards Association
Devin MurphyCouncil MemberCity of Pinole
Dianne JonesTrusteeFremont Unified School District
James AguilarTrusteeSan Leandro Unified School District
Andrew LewisNeighborhood CouncilmemberNorth Westwood
Caitlin QuinnBoard TrusteePetaluma City Schools
Jose AlonsoMayor Pro TemMendota
Josh GrayDirectorRancho Simi Recreation & Parks District
Ryan SegovianoTrusteePatterson Joint Unified School District
James ColemanCity CouncilmemberSouth San Francisco
Jack WestCity CouncilmanTrinidad
George WeissCity CouncilmanLaguna Beach
Emmanuel EstradaMayorCity of Baldwin Park
Kristi BeckerDeputy MayorSolana Beach
Christopher UngarTrusteeSan Luis Coastal Unified School District
Sudhanshu JainCouncilmemberCity of Santa Clara
Tara SreekrishnanBoard MemberSanta Clara County Board of Education
Susan GorinCounty SupervisorSonoma County
Rick BrownSchool Board (retired)Twin Hills Unified School District
Treva ReidCouncilmemberOakland
Paul FadelliMayorEl Cerrito
Barry BeckAssessorMono County
Mina Loera-DiazCouncilmemberVallejo
Colette SuchCouncilmemberSonora
Laura HernandezCity CouncilCity of Port Hueneme
Sally LieberBoard MemberCalifornia State Board of Equalization
Chance CutranoCouncilmemberTown of Fairfax
Marisol RubioCouncil MemberCity of San Ramon
Patricia ShowalterMayor
Alexander Walker-GriffinCouncil MemberHercules
Sam SalmonCouncil MemberTown of Windsor
Max PerreyVice MayorCity of Mill Valley
Marilyn Ezzy AshcraftMayor, City of AlamedaCity of Alameda
Dennis RamirezTribal ChairMechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria
Pat KearneyMayor Pro TemLawndale
John WestCouncilmemberTrinidad
Cameron SasaiMayorPinole
Kari BirdseyeCity CouncilmemberCity of Benicia
Christine BolesCouncil MemberCity of Pacifica
Maria DoerrCity Councilmember of Menlo ParkMenlo Park
Kaia EakinVice MayorRedwood City
Patricia Farrar-RivasMayorCity of Sonoma
Laura NakamuraVice MayorCity of Concord, District 5
Anthony TaveMayor Pro TemPinole
Cesar ZepedaCouncil MemberCity of Richmond
Linda SwanCouncil MemberTown of Los Altos Hills
Princess WashingtonMayor Pro TemSuisun City
Maurice GoodmanVice MayorMillbrae
Damon AlexanderCouncilmemberSan Bernardino
Daniel GoldsteinCouncilmemberCity of Hayward
Jeff WangCouncil MemberUnion City
Renee Contreras-DeLoachCouncil MemberCity of Eureka CA Ward 5
Meredith MatthewsCouncil MemberArcata
Shana CharlesMayor Pro TemDistrict 3
Pedro ChavezMayorSanta Paula
Mark EnmeierMayor Pro TemSan Clemente
Kevin LainezCouncilmemberCommerce
Caroline TorosisMayor Pro TemSanta Monica
Valerie VandeverMayorSan Jacinto
Blair StewartMayor Pro TemCity of Brea
Chelsea ByersMayorCity of West Hollywood
Shari HorneMayorLaguna Woods
Juan Muñoz-GuevaraCouncil MemberCity of Lynwood
Meghan Sahli-WellsFormer MayorCulver City
Yasmine-Imani McMorrinVice MayorCulver City
Jose Trinidad CastanedaCouncilmemberCity of Buena Park
Karina QuintanillaCouncilmember1
City HollywoodMayor Pro TemWest Hollywood
Soheila BanaCouncil MemberRichmond
Rosalinda VierraCouncil MemberCeres
Clint WeirickCouncil MemberCity of Grover Beach
Denise DelgadoMayor Pro TemIndio
Freddy PuzaCouncil memberCulver City
Elizabeth AlcantarMayorCudahy
Jenny WongCity AuditorBerkeley
Daniel RamosMayor Pro TemCity id Adelanto
Kate HarrisonFormer CouncilmemberBerkeley
John HaschakSupervisor/ Vice-ChairMendocino County
Dr. Kelly KentSchool Board MemberCulver City Unified School District
Cori TakkinenMayor Bob WhalenCity of Laguna Beach
Robert WhalenMayor
Michelle ShoresmanVice MayorCity of San Luis Obispo
Katie PorterMember of CongressCA-47
Rey LeonMayorCity of Huron
Eleni KounalakisLieutenant GovernorState of California
Jovanka BecklesAC Transit Director
Rick BonillaCity of San Mateo
Paul BoyerCouncil MemberCity of Farmersville
Julian GoldMayorBeverly Hills
Tarrell KullawayMayortown of San Anselmo
Dan KalmickCity CouncilmemberCity of Huntington Beach
Mark HumbertCouncil MemberCity of Berkeley
Wei-Tai KwokVice MayorLafayette
Rachel FaracCity council memberNovato D2
Soli AlpertRent Board CommissionerBerkeley
Julie Lythcott-HaimsCity Council MemberPalo Alto, California
Edward AlbrechtCalabasas City Councilman
Artemio VilegasCity CouncilDistrict #6.
Pat RavasioMayorCorte Madera
Felipe De Jesus PerezCouncil MemberFirebaugh
Igor TregubCouncilmemberDistrict 4
G FernandezCouncilmemberCity of Eureka
Gregg FishmanBoard of Directors, Sacramento Muiicpal utility District (SMUD)
Bryan FishCouncil MemberCulver City
Melanie BagbyFormer CouncilmemberCloverdale
Heidi HarmonFormer MayorSan Luis Obispo
Christopher SmithMayor Pro TemCity of Oakdale, CA
Vanessa PosterElected Board MemberBeach Cities Health District
Nithya RamanCouncil MemberLos Angeles Council District 4
Dan Kalbformer Oakland City CouncilmemberOakland
Carlos Carlos RomeroCouncilmemberEast Palo Alto
Cecilia LunaparraCouncilmemberBerkeley District 7
Tom WheelerDirectorHumboldt Bay Municipal Water District
Matt SimmonsPlanning CommissionerArcata
Jack NortonCommissioner
Phoebe VenkatCity Council MemberFoster city
Allen Kenneth
Katheryn NapierCouncilmember City of Blue Lake
Kati MoultonCouncilmemberEureka
Stephen KullmannCommissionerHumboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District
Patrick BurtCouncilmemberPalo Alto
jesus LopezCity councilPort Hueneme, CA