by Lloyd's List
30 September 2024 (Lloyd's List) - CALIFORNIA governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday crafted to help expedite the construction and design of Pier Wind, the proposed offshore wind project in the Port of Long Beach.
Assembly Bill 2235 “allows the port to use alternative construction delivery methods” to design and build the 400-acre terminal, according to a statement. The terminal will be used to assemble and deploy floating offshore wind turbines.
Port of Long Beach unveiled plans for the $4.7bn facility in May of 2023. If plans are approved by regulators, construction could begin in 2027, with the first 200 acres completed in 2031, and the rest in 2025, the port said.
“We now have the ability to plan and build Pier Wind in a way that is smarter, faster and more cost-effective,” port of Long Beach chief executive Mario Cordero said in a statement.
The administration of US President Joe Biden announced in May 2021 a goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind in the US by 2030, and has thus far permitted 15 GW of capacity.
Separately, the state of California set a preliminary goal of between two and five GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045.
“Offshore wind is a key component of California’s clean energy future,” said assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, who authored the bill.
“The governor’s signature on AB 2235 brings our state one step closer to achieving clean, sustainable energy delivery in our beautiful state. The Pier Wind project is an important extension of the smart growth efforts at our ports and will dramatically increase good paying jobs, improve air quality, and mitigate negative impacts to the surrounding Long Beach communities.”
