Offshore wind energy comes from the force of the winds out at sea, which are stronger than inland winds, and transformed into electricity and supplied into the electricity network onshore. These immense wind turbines provide a constantly renewable and infinite energy source without climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. 

The wind turbines - barely visible from shore - would sit upon floating platforms supported by a buoyant foundation and moored with cables and anchors in waters more than 3,000 feet deep.

There are currently two sites off the California coast being considered as offshore wind sites - Humboldt Bay and Morro Bay.

Humboldt Bay area

On May 5, 2022, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it has completed its environmental review of potential impacts from offshore wind in the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA) and found “no significant impact,” allowing the process towards a lease sale to move forward. 

The Humboldt WEA is approximately a 200 square mile site and located 20 miles offshore northern California. Should offshore wind development proceed for the site, it is projected to produce 1.6GW of clean, renewable energy, enough to power 560,000 homes. 

In March the California Energy Commission approved a $10.5 million grant for renovations at the Port of Humboldt Bay to support offshore wind activities. 

Morro Bay area

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has designated an area off Morro Bay in Central California as the state’s first offshore wind zone.

The Morro Bay Wind Energy Area (WEA) is located roughly 20 miles off the coast of central California and contains approximately 240,898 acres (376 square miles) of seabed. 
The environmental assessment process for the proposed Morro Bay Wind Energy Area is required under the National Environmental Policy Act and began in November. BOEM released a draft environmental assessment of the Morro Bay WEA, which is now in public comment period.