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What are the development timelines for the proposed Humboldt offshore wind farm, marine terminal, and associated transmission infrastructure?

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District (Harbor District) began planning for the project in 2020 with a grant from the Headwaters Fund. It submitted its California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notice of Preparation (1) for the project on June 26, 2023. The Harbor District intends for environmental review and permitting to be completed by the end of 2025 (2). 


The proposed Humboldt offshore wind farm is on an approximately 12-year development timeline. The Humboldt Call Area was first identified in 2018 (3), BOEM executed the leases for the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA) (4) in June 2023 (5), and developers began conducting site assessment and surveys in 2024. Wind turbines could potentially start being constructed in the early 2030s. Once the wind turbines are installed and operational, they would be regulated by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and expected to operate for at least 20 years.

Timeline of the offshore wind development process including the hand-off between BSEE and BOEM. Initiate Leasing Process (RFI/Call); Area ID (Wind Energy Areas) (0-~0.5 years); Publish Leasing Notices (0-<1.5 years) + NEPA/Environmental Reviews; Auction; Lease Granted; Pre-survey Meetings/Plan (0-1 years); Submit SAP; BOEM Reviews & Approves SAP; Site Assessment & Surveys (Maximum Timeframe) (0-<5 years); Submit COP; BOEM Deems COP Complete & Sufficient; Environmental & Technical Reviews (0-2 years); BOEM Decision on COP Approval; Submit FDR/FIR to BSEE (60 Days); BSEE Objection or No Objection on FDR/FIR; Installation and Commissioning (1-2 years); Operations (20+ years); Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS); Decommissioning /+ Repowering.

Timeline of the offshore wind development process including the hand-off between BSEE and BOEM.
Source: BSEE (7)

First, the California Energy Commission (CEC) determines how much electricity the State needs to meet load/demands in the Demand Forecast. In addition, they also analyze whether new energy sources, like offshore wind, are being built due to policy considerations.  The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) then determines how investor-owned utilities will meet their load in the Integrated Resource Plan. The California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO) then undergoes the Transmission Planning Process to determine what new transmission and/or upgrades are needed. (Source: NRDC, California Transmission Planning Ecosystem, pg. 5) (8)

 

On May 6, 2024, the CEC published the Humboldt Wind Energy Area Transmission Corridor Evaluation: Volume 1: Report (9), prepared by Aspen Environmental Group.

 

On May 23, 2024, CAISO provisionally approved (6) the transmission upgrades necessary to transmit the electricity generated by offshore wind to the greater California grid.. Similar to the offshore wind lease areas, CAISO approves the right to bid for and begin studying the feasibility of transmission infrastructure, but final environmental review approval comes later and is handled by the CPUC. In its provisionally approved plan (7), CAISO required that developers wishing to develop the new transmission demonstrate that it could be ready by June 1, 2034. CAISO opened the bid window for these projects on June 26, 2024. CAISO also posted bid selection criteria and announced that they plan to choose a developer by spring 2025. 

References​​

  1. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2023, July 26). Notice of Preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Report. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/WindTerminal_NOP_2023%200628_0.pdf 

  2. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2024, April 2.) Request for Qualifications: Redwood Marine Offshore Wind and Heavy Lift Multipurpose Terminal: Final Permitting and 30% Design Project. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/HBHRCD_MultipurposeTerminal-RFQ-PIDP23_v4.pdf 

  3. U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (2018, November 1). Northern California Call Area. www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/State-Activities/CA/Humboldt-Call-Area-Map.pdf 

  4. U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (n.d.). Humboldt Wind Energy Area. www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/humboldt-wind-energy-area

  5. California State Lands Commission. (2024). Offshore Wind Energy Development. www.slc.ca.gov/renewable-energy/offshore-wind-energy-development/ 

  6. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. (n.d.). Renewable Energy. U.S. Department of the Interior. www.bsee.gov/about-bsee/renewable-energy 

  7. California Independent System Operator. (2023, January 16). 2023-2024 Transmission Planning Process. https://stakeholdercenter.caiso.com/RecurringStakeholderProcesses/2023-2024-Transmission-planning-process

  8. Natural Resources Defense Council. (2024, July 15). California Transmission Planning Ecosystem [slide deck]. 

  9. California Energy Commission. (2024, May 6). Transmission Corridor Evaluation Humboldt Wind Area Volume 1: Report Prepared by Aspen. https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=256193

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