A new bill has been introduced in California’s state legislature that would add an assessment of funding opportunities for offshore wind port infrastructure to the Governor’s Five-Year Infrastructure Plan.
Introduced on 6 February, Assembly Bill 472 would amend the definition of “infrastructure” in the California Infrastructure Planning Act to include offshore wind port infrastructure as under the existing law it encompasses real property, including land and improvements to the land, structures and equipment integral to the operation of structures, easements, rights-of-way, and other forms of interest in property, roadways, and water conveyances.
The California Infrastructure Planning Act also requires the Governor to annually submit a five-year infrastructure plan to the state legislature in conjunction with the Governor’s Budget.
The new bill would enable the five-year infrastructure plan to include, starting in the 2027–28 fiscal year, an assessment of funding needs for port infrastructure for offshore wind energy development.
According to Assemblymember Chris Rogers, who introduced the bill, this will ensure that offshore wind port infrastructure is developed within the state’s clean energy goals and the California Energy Commission’s AB 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan.
To facilitate the support to port infrastructure, the bill requires collaboration between various state agencies to assess funding opportunities from federal, state, and local sources – including bonds and private sector investment – to ensure offshore wind port infrastructure is ready to aid in the shift to electrification of different sectors, like housing and transportation, according to a press release issued by Assemblymember Rogers’s office.
“Offshore wind has the potential to transform the economy of the North Coast and create access to a new renewable energy source”, said Chris Rogers . “Responsible, integrated planning for offshore wind energy facilities is key to their success. AB 472 will ensure offshore wind ports are included in California’s infrastructure planning so we can meet our state’s cleaner energy goals and create of jobs locally.”
In December 2024, California’s ports of Long Beach and Humboldt joined forces with California State Lands Commission with an aim of developing critical port infrastructure for wind turbine assembly, with projects planned offshore Humboldt County and in Morro Bay.
Back in December 2022, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) selected the winners of California’s first offshore wind lease sale.RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, Equinor Wind US, Invenergy California Offshore, California North Floating (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners), and Central California Offshore Wind (Ocean Winds) won the rights to develop floating wind projects across five lease areas in Humboldt Bay and Morro Bay, off the northern and central coasts of California, respectively. The five areas have an installation capacity of around 4.5 GW.