Local offshore wind project to detail progress

October 10,2018-

The joint venture firm applying to the government to build an ocean wind farm 30 miles off the Central Coast is holding two public meetings to go over progress on their pending application.

Joint venture partners Trident Winds Inc. & EnBW GMBH, who will now go by the name of Castle Wind, will hold a public session Thursday October 11 from 6-8 pm at the Morro Bay Community Center,1001 Kennedy Way, East and West Auditoriums in Morro Bay.

On Friday October 12 the firm will hold a second meeting in Cambria from 7-9 pm  at the Veterans Memorial Building,1000 Main Street, Cambria.

Making a presentation will be Alla Weinstein, founder & CEO of Trident Winds, and former founder & CEO of Principle Power, Inc., developer of a floating offshore wind support structure, the WindFloat. Also, Maren Raubenheimer Manager O&M for Offshore Wind Facilitator. Lastly – Brad Britton, MPA, BSEE, Principal & Founder of Britton Coaching & Consulting.

The federal Bureau Of Ocean Management (BOEM) and the State of California have initiated the competitive planning and leasing process for possible future leasing for offshore wind development off California.

A key meeting in September brought together many of the players who have a stake in what could be a new energy source for the Golden State.BOEM has since announced they would be moving forward on possible development of up to 4 different areas off our coast including sites off of both Morro Bay/Cambria and west of Diablo Canyon and off Humboldt in northern California. News is expected as soon as November on more specifics of what area if any might be considered by the Navy and Department of Defense who have blocked the idea so far but have recently suggested some flexibility.

The Castle Wind jolt venture is no the only company seeking a permit to build offshore.But they appear to be the only one who is working, at least publicly, with existing ocean stakeholders like the local fishing industry and City of Morro Bay, an approach that may find favor with regulators.

This week the Morro Bay Commercial Fisherman’s Organization, the Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen Association, and Castle Wind LLC joint venture entered into a mutual benefits agreement intended to minimize the impacts a future offshore wind project on the local commercial fishing industry.

In their new release this week Castle Wind argues that “California’s offshore wind is an abundant, local, renewable energy resource that will help California achieve its climate and renewable energy goals, while providing a critical diversity in the energy supply. California has some of the most ambitious climate and renewable energy goals in the world, with Governor Brown’s recent signing of legislation calling for California’s energy supply to be carbon neutral by 2045.”

Castle Wind says they are planning to develop an offshore wind project with a grid connection in Morro Bay that will generate up to 1,000 megawatts, providing clean energy for over 300,000 households.

While offshore wind helps to meet the state’s clean energy requirements, create well-paying sustainable jobs for the duration of the project operations, it also brings new economic and tax revenue benefits to the city of Morro Bay.

“However, as with any energy project, it may have an impact on the local community“ admits the company.

“The commercial fishing industry is a significant part of the Central Coast communities and economy. Castle Wind has been working closely with the local commercial fishing organizations for over two years to develop means to minimize the anticipated impacts in the vicinity of the planned offshore wind project. Castle Wind has voluntarily agreed to enter into the first of its kind mutual benefits agreement with the commercial fishing organizations to minimize the anticipated impacts to the commercial fishing communities, while opening new business opportunities for the fishing industry.

“We appreciate that Castle Wind LLC has reached out to the local fishing community to find a solution that is workable for both of us. This agreement is the first of its kind and will set a could be used as an example for other fishing communities to address their specific issue. We wanted to make sure it was right for the fishermen, so we spent a lot of time discussing our

options with Morro Bay and Port San Luis Obispo fishing organizations and Castle Wind LLC until we finally came to an understanding that should work for all. We are now more confident going forward that this agreement will ensure that the needs of the commercial fishermen are taken into consideration with the installation of an offshore wind farm in our local waters,” said Tom Hafer, President of MBCFO, speaking on behalf of both organizations.”