Navy secretary says ”no”- (CORRECTED”
Navy Secretary in article misidentified; Should be Secretary Williams. Sorry for the error
-July 10,2020-
On July 1- the same day Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbahal’s staff was offering ideas at a public webinar hearing on new proposals to launch the offshore wind industry, the Congressman was offering an amendment to the Department of Defense’s (DOD) annual appropriation that was designed to bring the Navy to the table and allow wind turbines off Morro Bay.
The Navy and Carbajal have been negotiating since 2016 and in the past year a new-multi agency “working group” had been set up.The task force included the California Energy Commission, federal agencies including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the DOD, all looking to find a location off Carbajal’s district where the Navy could accept the placement of floating wind turbines.
DOD previously found that the plan was ”incompatible” with military operations saying they needed a wide area for maneuvers.
But in March of this year the working group suggested they were closer to a deal.
Now in a surprise announcement, Carbajal reported the Navy was again saying “no” to all proposals.
A few days ago at a Washington hearing for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, Carbajal, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, offered an amendment that if it becomes law – would require Navy cooperation in the talks.
On the House floor Carbajal noted the task force”had made great progress “to find a win-win solution that the Navy had signed off on earlier this year.
“Wind energy is critical for our 21st century clean energy goals” and” will create thousands of jobs.” The issue is critical to the Central Coast “especially with the impending closure of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.“he added.
Referring to newly appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gregory J. Slavonic, Carbajal said the Secretary recently “made it clear to myself that wind energy development may not be compatible with military activities.”
This “reversal” of the Navy position “came abruptly” and “without any acknowledgment of commitments previously made.”
Looking to encourage the Navy to come back to the table, Carbajal’s amendment would require that the Defense Department not be able to “prematurely object to offshore wind off the Central Coast”and follow the clearing house process, he said.
“My amendment would require that the DOD brief” Carbajal or his assistant Greg Haas “on progress of the working group.
”I am confident we can work together.”
The amendment passed muster with this legislative committee and now m