COMMUNITY O shore Windmill Farm E ect on the Coastal Marine Industry Will be up for Discussion

By: LOG STAFF

The 51st annual Marine Recreation Association (MRA) Educational Conference & Trade Show will take place Oct. 16-18 at Torrey Pines in La Jolla to provide insight into many marine industry issues. The event is open to marina owners and operators. The most controversial topic discussed will be the California AB 525 (2021) and the creation of offshore windmill farms along the coast.

Following the general session and keynote speech on Oct. 17, at 9:45 a.m., West Coast Director Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, Mike Conroy, will discuss the current state of affairs regarding offshore wind energy facilities off the California coast.

Conroy will review the potential impacts of California AB525 (2021), which tasked the California Energy Commission with developing a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters. With the intention of producing more than 25,000 gigawatts of wind-generated power by 2045, the initiative would re-

On Board With J.R. Johnson

sult in roughly 3,000 square miles of California’s coastal ocean being assigned to wind farm development.

But what will the potential impacts of this development be on the marine environment, fishing activities, recreational boating, and whale migrations along the coast, and how will the state’s ports, harbors, and marinas be affected? Environmental and other studies are still ongoing. Conroy will review some findings from these and provide further insight into applicable state and federal legislative efforts focused on this nascent industry.

The theme for this year’s MRA Conference is Acknowledgment and Appreciation , and it will focus on the fu- ture, looking forward to new challenges and achievements in the marine industry. The conference will feature a broad catalog of industry experts and in- formation covering critical industry operations, management, and marketing concerns.

Letters/Online Comments

RE: Catalina Marine Society Studies Marine Environment (JULY 7-20)

“great work”

—Paul Suzuki

RE: Welcome Aboard the Catalina Express (JULY 7-20)

“You mean the song should not have said 26 miles, but rather it depends on where you are starting from? Of course, in those days Orange County did not count for much.”

—Brian Aherne

RE: Ask a Maritime Attorney: What are the steps to put a lien on a vessel? (AUG. 26)

“I want to put a lean on a boat.”

—Robert Jordan