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 PositionElected Municipality or District
Barry BeckAssessorMono County
Jim ProvenzaBoard ChairYolo County
Shanthi GonzalesBoard MemberOakland Unified School District
Doug LinneyBoard MemberEast Bay Municipal Utility District
Tara SreekrishnanBoard MemberSanta Clara County Board of Education
Adam CarranzaBoard MemberMountain View School District
Caitlin QuinnTrusteePetaluma Joint Union High School District
Christopher SmithCouncilmemberCity Of Oakdale
Alexis Garcia-ArrazolaCouncilmemberCity of Seaside
Victor AguilarCouncilmemberCity of San Leandro
Rigel RobinsonCouncilmemberCity of Berkeley
Deborah CoxCouncilmemberCity of San Leandro
Dianne MartinezCouncilmemberCity of Emeryville
Loren TaylorCouncilmemberCity of Oakland
Laura HernandezCouncilmemberCity of Port Hueneme
Claudia JimenezCouncilmemberCity of Richmond
Paul FadeliCouncilmemberCity of El Cerrito
Kara TaylorCouncilmemberCity of Placerville
Felipe PerezCouncilmemberCity of Firebaugh
Salvador Solorio-RuizCouncilmemberCity of Delano
Felicia WilliamsCouncilmemberCity of Pasadena
Eric AlegriaCouncilmemberCity of Rancho Palos Verdes
Mike BoninCouncilmemberCity of Los Angeles
Paul KoretzCouncilmemberCity of Los Angeles
Andrew LewisCouncilmemberCouncilmember
John D'AmicoCouncilmemberCity of West Hollywood
Lindsey HorvathCouncilmemberCity of West Hollywood
Phil BrockCouncilmemberCity of Santa Monica
Nithya RamanCouncilmemberCity of Los Angeles
Eli BeckmanCouncilmemberCity of Corte Madera
Kristi BeckerCouncilmemberCity of Solana Beach
Jennifer Torres-OcallaghanCouncilmemberCity of Lathrop
Marcia GuthrieCouncilmemberCity of Pismo Beach
Harvey RarbackCouncilmemberCity of Half Moon Bay
Rebeca ArmendarizCouncilmemberCity of Gilroy
Sudhanshu JainCouncilmemberCity of Santa Clara
Justin CummingsCouncilmemberCity of Santa Cruz
Shebreh Kalantari-JohnsonCouncilmemberCity of Santa Cruz
D'Lynda FischerCouncilmemberCity of Petaluma
Dennis PocekayCouncilmemberCity of Petaluma
Melanie BagbyCouncilmemberCity of Cloverdale
Colette SuchCouncilmemberCity of Sonora
Bert PerelloCouncilmemberCity of Oxnard
Mina Loera-DiazCouncilmemberCity of Vallejo
Sally LieberCouncilmemberCity of Mountain View
Rebecca KaplanVice MayorCity of Oakland
Das WilliamsCounty SupervisorSanta Barbara County
Joan HartmannCounty SupervisorSanta Barbara County
Susan GorinCounty SupervisorSonoma County
Andy KatzDirectorEast Bay Municipal Utility District
Jovanka BecklesDirectorAC Transit Board
Josh GrayDirectorRancho Simi Recreation & Parks District
Neal LattDirectorHumboldt Bay Municipal Water District
Pat KearneyCouncilmemberCity of Lawndale
Eduardo MartinezMayorCity of Richmond
Gabriel QuintoMayorCity of El Cerrito
Rey LeonMayorCity of Huron
Alma BeltranMayorCity of Parlier
Jose GurrolaMayorCity of Arvin
Bryan OsorioMayorCity of Delano
Elizabeth AlcantarMayorCity of Cudahy
Diana MahmudMayorCity of South Pasadena
Lauren MeisterMayorCity of West Hollywood
Daniel LeeMayorCity of Culver City
Meghan Sahli-WellsMayorCity of Culver City
Ian OglesbyMayorCity of Seaside
Serge DedinaMayorCity of Imperial Beach California
Catherine BlakespearMayorCity of Encinitas
Erica StewartMayorCity of San Luis Obispo
John HeaddingMayorCity of Morro Bay
Heidi HarmonMayorCity of San Luis Obispo
Sofia RubalcavaMayorCity of San Buenaventura
Marilyn Ezzy AshcraftMayorCity of Alameda
Jorgel ChavezMayor Pro TemCity of Bell Gardens
Devin MurphyMayor Pro TemCity of Pinole
Salvador MelendezCouncilmemberCity of Montebello
Rebecca SaltzmanPresidentBay Area Rapid Transit Region Board
Xilonin Cruz-GonzalezSchool Board MemberAzusa Unified School District
James AguilarTrusteeSan Leandro Unified School District
Sydney Kamlager-DoveState SenatorDistrict 30
Don SaylorCounty SupervisorYolo County
John WestCouncilmemberCity of Trinidad
Dianne JonesTrusteeFremont Unified School District
Laura SantosTrusteeMt San Antonio College
John RizzoTrusteeCity College of San Francisco
Chris UngarTrusteeSan Luis Coastal Unified School District
Jonathan AbboudTrusteeSanta Barbara Community College District
Ryan SegovianoTrusteePatterson Joint Unified School District
Steve TrujilloTrusteeCabrillo College
Chance CutranoVice MayorTown of Fairfax
Al ClarkVice MayorCity of Carpinteria
Alison HicksVice MayorCity of Mountain View
Martha Camacho RodriguezWater Board DirectorCentral Basin Municipal Water

*Titles reflect elected position at the time of signing.

References

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2002. “Sixth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.” https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-ii/

2. California Energy Commission. 2021. “SB 100 Joint Agency Report.” https://www.energy.ca.gov/sb100

3. California Energy Commission. May 2022. “Draft Commission Report: Offshore Wind Energy Development off the California Coast.” https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2022/offshore-wind-energy-development-california-coast-maximum-feasible-capacity-and

4. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2020. “2020 Offshore Wind Resource Assessment for the California Pacific Outer Continental Shelf.” https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/77642.pdf

5. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. November 2020. “The Cost of Floating Offshore Wind Energy in California Between 2019 and 2032.” https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/77384.pdf

6. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 2016. “Floating Offshore Wind in California: Gross Potential for Jobs and Economic Impacts from Two Future Scenarios.”  https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/65352.pdf

7. Environment California Research & Policy Center and the Frontier Group. March 2021. “Offshore Wind for America: The promise and potential of clean energy off our coasts.” https://environmentamerica.org/sites/environment/files/reports/AME_Offshore-Wind-For-America_2021.pdf?_ga=2.170387237.424246226.1653340209-1568289227.1651504516

8. Lost Coast Outpost. May 2021. “Newsom’s Budget Includes $11M for Port of Humboldt Bay Development to Support Emerging Offshore Wind Industry.” https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2021/may/19/newsoms-budget-includes-11m-port-humboldt-bay-supp/

9. American Jobs Project. February 2019. “The California Offshore Wind Project: A Vision for Industry Growth.” http://americanjobsproject.us/ajp-state/california

10. Call Matters. March 2021. “California could lead the nation in offshore wind energy.” https://calmatters.org/commentary/my-turn/2021/03/california-could-lead-the-nation-in-offshore-wind-energy/

11. The White House. May 2021. “FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Opens Pacific Coast to New Jobs and Clean Energy Production with Offshore Wind Development.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/25/fact-sheet-biden-administration-opens-pacific-coast-to-new-jobs-and-clean-energy-production-with-offshore-wind-development/

12. San Francisco Chronicle. March 2021. Offshore wind can give California more renewable energy and well-paying jobs.” https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Offshore-wind-can-give-California-more-renewable-15998376.php

13. Brightline Defense. December 2020. “California Offshore Wind: Winding Up for Economic Growth & Environmental Equity.” https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f434962cbc7a227a863c879/t/5fd959830384a13720d3d61e/1608079766544/Brightline-OffshoreWind-Report-12-6-2020.pdf

14. Call Matters. March 2021. “California could lead the nation in offshore wind energy.” https://calmatters.org/commentary/my-turn/2021/03/california-could-lead-the-nation-in-offshore-wind-energy/

15. IEA. May 2021. “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector.” https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050

16. Lexology. April 2021. “Offshore wind can meet 90% of US energy demand by 2050 says study.” https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=66443b67-2e7d-4290-9ae4-ae4d9f7da5a9