Lieutenant Governor and State Lands Commissioner Eleni Kounalakis Announce Partnership with Port of Long Beach and Humboldt to Advance Offshore Wind Energy
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Contact: Press@ltg.ca.gov, (916) 445-8994
SACRAMENTO — Today, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and the California State Lands Commission announced a groundbreaking agreement with the Ports of Long Beach and Humboldt to advance floating offshore wind energy development along the California coast. This visionary partnership will help transform California’s energy future, supporting the state’s transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.
The agreement establishes a collaborative framework to upgrade port infrastructure essential for staging and integrating floating offshore wind turbines. The California Energy Commission’s Offshore Wind Strategic Plan identifies Long Beach and Humboldt ports as key deployment sites. Over the past year, the State Lands Commission has collaborated with both ports to build a partnership focused on advancing these projects while prioritizing environmental stewardship, fostering community engagement, and supporting California Native American tribes and historically underserved populations.
Offshore wind energy is poised to generate up to 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by the middle of the century, significantly contributing to California’s climate goals and creating thousands of high-quality jobs. This partnership demonstrates the State Lands Commission’s critical role in responsibly managing California’s public lands to advance innovative solutions to climate change.
For more information regarding the announcement, visit the California State Lands Commission’s press release here.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Lieutenant Governor and State Lands Commissioner Eleni Kounalakis
“This agreement is a monumental step forward in California’s clean energy journey. It underscores our commitment to responsibly, sustainably, and equitably developing offshore wind while uplifting Native American tribes, local communities, and underserved populations.”
State Controller and Commission Chair Malia M. Cohen
“This important agreement parlays the foundations of offshore wind energy development—environmental protection, equity, public engagement, and the economy—into a partnership that leads the way toward a clean energy future.”
Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero
“We thank the State Lands Commission for focusing on a multi-port strategy that allows the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Humboldt to serve as turbine assembly sites in California’s floating offshore wind industry. This agreement, combined with the climate bond recently approved by California voters and the state’s commitment to procure up to 7.6 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind by 2035, gives the industry and California ports the confidence to invest in Pier Wind and other complementary projects and create thousands of good-paying jobs.”
Humboldt Harbor District Executive Director Chris Mikkelsen
“This commitment is a significant first step that lays the pathway for responsible and equitable engagement, open and honest dialogue, and the incorporation of meaningful feedback. May this promise invite all interested and affected parties to engage, contribute, and join in unity to bring opportunity, strong environmental health, and leading economic development to our communities today and into the future.”
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
The Lieutenant Governor serves on and rotates with the State Controller as chair of the three-member State Lands Commission, which oversees the control and leasing of millions of acres of state-owned public land, including offshore oil resources, as well as use and permitting for all navigable waterways in California. The Commission also regulates marine oil terminals in California and prevents invasive species introductions. During alternate years, when the Lieutenant Governor serves as Chairperson of the State Lands Commission, she also serves as a California Ocean Protection Council member and a non-voting member of the California Coastal Commission.
ABOUT THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION
The State Lands Commission is the California Environmental Quality Act lead agency for offshore wind energy projects and is responsible for enforcing tideland trust principles. The Commission manages over 4 million acres of public land in California.
For more information, please visit slc.ca.gov.