Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, in coordination with relevant federal, state, and local agencies, to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters, and requires the commission to submit the strategic plan to the Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature on or before June 30, 2023. Existing law requires the commission, on or before June 1, 2022, to evaluate and quantify the maximum feasible capacity of offshore wind to achieve reliability, ratepayer, employment, and decarbonization benefits and to establish megawatt offshore wind planning goals for 2030 and 2045. Existing law requires the commission, in coordination with specified state entities, to work with stakeholders, other state, local, and federal agencies, and the offshore wind energy industry to identify suitable sea space for wind energy areas in federal waters sufficient to accommodate those offshore wind planning goals. Existing law requires the commission, in coordination with relevant state and local agencies, based on those identified sea spaces, to develop a plan to improve waterfront facilities that could support a range of floating offshore wind energy development activities. Existing law requires the commission, in consultation with specified state entities, to assess the transmission investments and upgrades necessary to support those offshore wind planning goals. Existing law requires the commission to develop and produce a permitting roadmap that describes timeframes and milestones for a coordinated, comprehensive, and efficient permitting process for offshore wind energy facilities and associated electricity and transmission infrastructure off the coast of California. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2027.
This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the State Lands Commission, other specified state entities, and the California Coastal Commission, to develop a 2nd-phase plan and strategy for seaport readiness that builds upon the recommendations and alternatives in the strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments, as specified. The bill would require the commission to submit a report on its recommendations for a seaport readiness strategy to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31, 2026. The bill would additionally require the commission, in consultation with the California Workforce Development Board, to conduct a study on the feasibility of achieving 50% and 65% in-state assembly and manufacturing of offshore wind energy projects and specified federal domestic content thresholds for offshore wind energy projects, as provided. The bill would require the commission to submit a report on the study to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31, 2027. The bill would repeal these provisions, including the existing law provisions described above, on January 1, 2031.

Statutes affected:
03/23/23 - Amended Assembly: 25991.8 PRC
04/04/23 - Amended Assembly: 25991.8 PRC
04/26/23 - Amended Assembly: 25991.8 PRC
06/08/23 - Amended Senate: 25991.8 PRC
06/22/23 - Amended Senate: 25991.8 PRC
07/13/23 - Amended Senate: 25991.8 PRC
09/01/23 - Amended Senate: 25991.8 PRC
09/18/23 - Enrolled: 25991.8 PRC
10/07/23 - Chaptered: 25991.8 PRC