Port of Long Beach plans 400-acre wind turbine staging area on dredged “new land”
A massive project to build a 400-acre offshore wind turbine assembly terminal at California’s Port of Long Beach is expected to cost $4.7 billion, port officials say
The port released a concept report back in May outlining its proposal for the facility it says would be the largest of its kind in the U.S. specifically designed for offshore wind turbines.Once assembled at Long Beach, the turbines would be towed to sites off the coast including Morro Bay. Port officials hope to start construction as early as January 2027 for the proposed Pier Wind project. Under that timeline, the first 100 acres could open for operations in early 2031 and the whole facility could be open in 2035.
Several hearings on the project are scheduled(see below).
The Port of Long Beach plans to construct a 400-acre terminal and 30-acre transportation corridor for receiving, staging, and storing wind turbine generator components (tower sections, nacelles, and blades) and foundation sub-assemblies, performing final assembly of floating foundations, and integrating components with the floating foundation to create floating offshore wind turbine systems.
The project would construct “new land “at the Port that would best meet the land requirements for waterfront facilities necessary for efficient staging, integration, and floating foundation assembly of large floating OSW turbine systems
In-water construction activities would include approximately 50 million cubic yards of dredging for fill material and surcharge, construction of rock revetment dikes, and construction of a terminal wharf, sinking basin, wet storage areas, and concrete piers adjacent to the transportation corridor.Dredging would be under the supervision of United States, Corps of Engineers.
Advocates say Pier Wind project helps California:
Harness the powerful wind in deep waters in order to generate renewable energy at a lower cost while enhancing air quality by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Meet the state’s goal of producing 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045.
And contribute toward lowering the national cost of offshore wind power by 70% by 2035.
California has some of the best OSW energy resources in the world and OSWs tend to blow harder and more uniformly than on land, says a report.
Energy agency NREL found that building larger turbine systems and maximizing production at one site can lead to significant cost reductions for OSW energy, creating a valuable opportunity for cost savings. Turbines can provide more consistent output during the winter months when solar production is lower and increase the average amount of renewable electricity generation available in the early evening hours as solar generation begins to decline, says NREL.
Long Beach is well-poised to meet the unique requirements to accommodate a terminal for foundation assembly by creating 400 acres of new land in the Outer Harbor using material dredged from within the POLB. This approach offers flexibility for foundation assembly in a centralized location, supporting economies of scale crucial for meeting OSW energy goals efficiently and reducing the overall cost. The proposed Project would strategically deepen areas around the Pier Wind Terminal to create a sinking basin, channel, and wet storage at depths necessary to meet operational needs. The terminal would be located in front of the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge
Presentations of the big project are slated for the following.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 (In-Person)
Open House from 5 to 6 p.m., Scoping Meeting starts at 6 p.m.
Port of Long Beach Administration Building, 415 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802 (Open House and Scoping Meeting)
Open House and Scoping Meeting #2
Date: Time: Location:
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 (In-Person)
Open House from 5 to 6 p.m., Scoping Meeting starts at 6 p.m.
Port of Long Beach Administration Building, 415 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802 (Open House) and Bob Foster Civic Chambers, adjacent to the Port of Long Beach Administration Building in the Long Beach Civic Center, 411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802
(Scoping Meeting)