-February 10.2020-
Carbajal working group makes progress in talks between feds, DOD and the state
The guy that said “no way” appears to be finding a way,afterall. A key gatekeeper with the US Navy says they are ready to move forward on plans for offshore wind along the Central Coast – particularly plans for floating turbines off of Morro Bay.
Navy encroachment program director Steve Chung says a new collaboration that was launched last summer that included himself, the Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert McMahon and the chair the California Energy Commission (CEC) has been working with local legislative leaders led by SLO Congressman Salud Carbajal on a monthly basis since. The working group is tasked to find a way to identify locations for offshore wind in federal waters off the Central Coast despite serious misgivings by the US Navy.
Chung has been adamant in the past that the Navy could not support virtually any project that sought to set up in the Navy’s wind exclusion zones colored red on the map, where the Navy has operations. Still Chung agreed in the last year to” keep talking.”
New map coming out
Overseeing the process on the federal side is the Bureau of Ocean Management ( BOEM) in charge of leases in federal waters – beyond three miles out. Spokesperson John Romero of BOEM says since last summer the SLO-based working group “has made a lot of progress” that will now result in a new map being published in the next few days by the state CEC that could be the basis for the next step after four years of waiting.
“Nothing is ever easy” admits Romero who has watched the give and take the over the issue the whole time.
The map will identify locations the Navy and Department of Defense might accept – turning a red light into green for this new renewable energy industry.But details have to be worked out.
Romero adds that you can look for public meeting in Morro Bay to go over the working group’s map likely in late March or April.
A recent study suggested California has three areas where offshore wind might take hold.The waters off of Morro Bay, off Diablo Canyon and locations off of Northern California. The Navy has little objection to offshore projects in Northern California. But it lacks a robust and available transmission capacity despite ample wind.
The study concludes that “the three proposed BOEM lease areas (Morro Bay, Diablo Canyon, Humboldt Bay) and two additional zones in Northern California (Cape Mendocino and Del Norte)” together “represent more than three times California’s current onshore wind capacity and, if developed to their maximum potential, could provide approximately 25 percent of the state’s future electricity needs.”
California aims to make the grid operate with 100% renewable energy to fight global warming.
Romero says a key factor in favor of offshore wind on the Central Coast is the availability of transmission infrastructure that could supply much of the state already connected to the grid. That includes the transmission lines from the shuttered Moro Bay power plant. Likewise off Diablo Canyon, where the state’s only nuclear power plant may be idled in the next few year leaving these power lines open to receive some 2000 MW from wind farms off the coast. Applicants with code names have applied to the state agency. CAISO – the California Independent System Operator who oversees the operation of California’s bulk electric power system, transmission lines, and electricity market for use of both the Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon capacity.
Even if BOEM takes the next big step and calls for bids to set up in federal waters – it will be a competitive process . A dozen international companies have expressed interest in a lease including Castle Wind who have lobbied the City of Morro Bay and the fishing industry there to support them.
Photo: L-R (Partial): California Energy Commission Chairman David Hochschild, SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill, California Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham, Assistant Secretary of Defense General Robert McMahon and Congressman Salud Carbajal, Unknown, DoD Representative Steve Chung…