California governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2235, which will allow the port of Long Beach to expedite the design and construction of Pier Wind, a proposed 400-acre (161.9 ha) terminal for the floating wind energy industry.
Authored by assembly member Josh Lowenthal, the bill aims to reduce costs and accelerate the USD4.7 billion project, which would be the largest facility of its kind in the USA. “We now have the ability to plan and build Pier Wind in a way that is smarter, faster and more cost-effective,” said port of Long Beach ceo Mario Cordero.
The project is seen as vital to California’s renewable energy goals, while also creating jobs and boosting economic opportunities. Pier Wind will support the assembly and deployment of floating wind turbines, which will be towed to offshore sites along the California coast.
The proposed project is undergoing extensive environmental review by local, state and federal regulatory agencies as the Port of Long Beach gathers input from the community. If approved, the port expects to begin construction as soon as 2027 with the first 200 acres (80.9 ha) completed in 2031, and the final 200 acres coming online in 2035.
