BRIEF OVERVIEW: In 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) awarded two lease areas 20-30 miles west of Humboldt Bay to offshore wind developers. BOEM’s environmental review process for offshore wind development is separated into two analyses. First is environmental impact assessment of the impacts of the studies that need to be done, such as the use of buoys, radar, and sonar. Next, after studies of the lease areas are complete, Environmental Impact Statements will analyze impacts from construction and operation of the wind turbines. These processes will be done separately for the two lease areas.
Also in 2022, the California Coastal Commission reviewed plans for studying marine life in the proposed Humboldt Wind Energy Area, 21 miles west of Humboldt Bay. We submitted these comments and these comments. The plans for studies were approved with seven conditions, including a vessel speed limit of 10 knots (11.5 mph) to decrease the likelihood of collisions with whales and other marine mammals.
In 2023, the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District issued a Notice of Preparation for the proposed Heavy Lift Terminal in Samoa. We submitted these comments on the potential impacts that must be addressed in the Draft EIR, which is being developed. For more info, check out the website we developed with colleagues at EPIC and CORE Hub: FAQs on Offshore Wind Energy.
LATEST NEWS on Offshore Wind Energy:

The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously today to conditionally concur with a federal determination that allowing energy companies and organizations to study a proposed offshore wind farm area on the Humboldt County Coast is consistent with the California Coastal Management Program.

The commission’s vote today does not approve the wind farms or the start of any construction activities — all of which would come back before the commission in the future for further review

Commission staff made clear in its report and presentation that while BOEM believes it is premature to analyze the full scope of environmental impacts of turning a swath of ocean waters off Humboldt Bay into a wind farm, such a transformation is a “reasonably foreseeable” result of today’s vote, so should be considered to the extent possible. Further, commission staff explained this consistency determination was a chance to lay a foundation for the commission’s role in the process moving forward as the state and federal governments continue to push for a more sustainable energy grid.

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Humboldt Bay is about to undergo a transformation that will turn the struggling port into a hub for offshore wind development.

On Wednesday, the California Energy Commission announced it was awarding $10.5 million to the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District to complete the preliminary work, like site surveys and environmental impact assessments, to renovate 168 acres from the Samoa Bridge to the former pulp mill on the peninsula. That includes a new heavy lift marine terminal and 600,000 square feet of new manufacturing space.

“Overall it’s a couple $100 million projects,” Larry Oetker, director of the Humboldt Bay harbor district, told The Times-Standard. “The initial $10 million will get us all the permits and all the environmental review. It will get it to the point where you could actually start building the terminal.”

The Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal would have the capacity to manufacture the towers that support the wind turbines and the floating platforms they would rest upon.

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The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District recently received a $576,191 grant from the State Lands Commission to build a Heavy Lift Marine Terminal as part of the offshore wind energy  terminal planned along the Samoa waterfront. The District also released its call for bids on permitting, site assessment, and planning for the Offshore Wind Energy Terminal Master Plan, a 168-acre project to be built in several phases.

On September 24, 2021, Humboldt Baykeeper and the Environmental Protection Information Center joined the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Audubon Society, and other environmental organizations in submitting joint scoping comments on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Environmental Assessment for the Humboldt Wind Energy Area. 
Download the comments HERE.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is close to opening up the coast for competitive bids for development. What is in store for Humboldt County? Matthew Marshall from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority joins Gang Green on the latest EcoNews Report to discuss.

Click HERE to listen to this episode. 

The EcoNews Report is a weekly environmental news roundup produced in Arcata, California by Environmental Protection Information Center, Northcoast Environmental Center, Friends of the Eel River, and Humboldt Baykeeper.

Tune in to KHUM, Radio Without the Rules, on Saturdays at 10am (104.3 & 104.7 FM or streaming at khum.org).  

You can subscribe wherever you get podcasts (it's free!) and feel free to leave us a review.

More Articles …

  1. Report: $124 Million Needed to Transform Port of Humboldt for Offshore Wind
  2. Offshore Wind Gusts Forward 
  3. Biden administration announcement will speed offshore wind in California & new wind port
  4. Offshore Wind Could Be California’s Next Big Energy Rush
  5. Harbor District Exploring Major Port Redesign to Support Proposed Offshore Wind Energy Project
  6. Terra-Gen Critics Said We Should Wait for Offshore Wind, But Will That Project Spark an Even Nastier Debate?
  7. First offshore wind farm on West Coast is one step closer: Redwood Coast Energy Authority submits lease application
  8. Offshore Wind Energy Project Proposed for Humboldt Coast
  9. Interview with RCEA's Matthew Marshall on the Proposed Floating Offshore Wind Farm
  10. Offshore wind developers look to the North Coast
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