NEWS
Coastal Commission Moves Offshore Wind Forward
How offshore wind works. BOEM
As process advances into site studies, commission pushes ‘adaptive management on steroids’ By Thadeus Greenson thad@northcoastjournal.com
T
he California Coastal Commission voted unanimously April 7 to conditionally concur with a federal determination that allowing energy companies and organizations to study a proposed offshore wind farm area on the Humboldt County coast is consistent with the state’s Coastal Management Program. The highly technical and bureaucratic vote clears the way for companies interested in purchasing federal leases to erect large, floating offshore wind turbines to generate renewable electricity off the coast to begin studying and assessing the project site. Known as the Humboldt Wind Energy Area, the site 21 miles off Humboldt Bay spans 132,000 acres, in which the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) plans to sell up to three leases in an auction process slated to begin in the fall. The commission’s vote does not approve the wind farms or the start of any construction activities — all of which would come back before the commission in the future for further review — just lease exploration activities, like site characterization and assessment. Those activities will likely include additional boat trips out to the area — nearly 500 estimated over a three-year period — and the installation of up to three buoys outfitted with scientific sampling equipment. But commission staff made clear in its report and presentation to the commission that while BOEM believes it is premature to analyze the full scope of environmental impacts of turning a swath of ocean waters off Humboldt Bay into a wind farm, such a transformation is a “reasonably foresee-
able” result of the April 7 vote, so should be considered to the extent possible. Further, commission staff explained this consistency determination was a chance to lay a foundation for the commission’s role in the process moving forward as the state and federal governments continue to push for a more sustainable energy grid. To that end, staff recommended — and the commission approved — seven conditions aimed at mitigating environmental impacts of the site study work, keeping stakeholders involved in the discussion and gathering relevant data. Specifically, the commission approved the following seven conditions: Condition 1 requires BOEM to work with commission staff to ensure that lessees’ survey, sampling and analysis plans are coordinated to minimize impacts to coastal resources. Condition 2 requires lessees to avoid “intentional contact” with hard substrate, rock outcroppings, seamounts of deep-sea coral/ sponge habitats, all of which are critical for the region’s biodiversity. Condition 3 requires vessels conducting site research not exceed a speed of 10 knots to avoid unintentional strikes of sea mammals. Condition 4 requires BOEM to ensure commercial fishing vessels safe navigation through the lease areas. Conditions 5 and 6 require engagement with environmental justice communities and Native communities on site assessment and construction and operations plans. Condition 7 requires lessees to have an independent fisheries liaison to work with the commercial fishing community to make
sure site assessment activities don’t conflict with local fisheries. The overwhelming sentiment of the commissioners was that staff had done an “excellent” job of working with stakeholders and across state and federal agencies to produce a report and recommendations that both properly assessed impacts of the site exploration activities and also set the table for future conversations, all while working under very tight timelines. The final product is “foundational,” commissioners said, representing a “whole of government” approach to evaluating offshore wind. “California is not only a leader in clean energy in the world, we are a leader in our coastal, wildlife and marine protection, particularly for biodiversity,” Commission Chair Donne Brownsey said. “I think that this is a good start in showing that those two really important goals can be balanced and really work together. I do think that’s where we’re starting and I hope that’s where we can end.” Perhaps underscoring commissioners’ high praise of staff’s work on its report and recommendations is that they were praised by both environmental and industry groups weighing in on the issue, as well as BOEM. During her staff report on the subject, Commission Deputy Director of Energy, Ocean Resources and Federal Consistency Kate Huckelbridge noted there are a lot of unknowns with deep-water, floating offshore wind farms but made clear there will be environmental impacts. “There’s no free lunch,” she said, explaining there will be “tradeoffs” as the state works to triple its clean energy production in the coming decades to achieve the goal of Continued on next page » northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, April 14, 2022 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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