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How would the proposed Humboldt offshore wind farm impact Wigi/Humboldt Bay?

Offshore wind turbines would need to be constructed somewhere on the West Coast before being installed offshore. Wigi (1), aka Humboldt Bay, has been identified (2) by the State of California as a potential site for wind turbine construction, and what the industry refers to as “staging and integration” (S&I), as well as operations and maintenance (O&M). Turbine parts manufactured in other locations would be shipped to Wigi/Humboldt Bay, stored at the site, and then final integration would occur here prior to the wind turbines being installed offshore. Completed offshore wind turbines would also need to be stored in the bay prior to installation.

Aerial view of Wigi/Humboldt Bay in 2007.

Aerial view of Wigi/Humboldt Bay in 2007.

Source: Robert Campbell via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) (3)

Reasons that Wigi/Humboldt Bay is a prime candidate for this purpose include its proximity to the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA) (4) and other potential future wind areas (5) on the West Coast, as well as the fact that no human-made structure blocks the mouth of Wigi/Humboldt Bay (for example, the turbines would be too tall to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay). The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District (Harbor District) is currently developing the proposed Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project (6) on the Samoa Peninsula of Wigi/Humboldt Bay and, in early January 2024, unanimously approved a Green Terminal Strategy Resolution (7) which directs staff to develop a green terminal strategy roadmap for the terminal. The roadmap would include strategies to limit emissions at the terminal to the extent feasible at the outset of operations and to create a stakeholder group. For example, electric cranes could be used instead of diesel ones which would significantly reduce the emissions associated with turbine construction and protect the residents of Samoa from poor air quality. In late January 2024, the Harbor District received a $426,719,810 INFRA grant (8) from the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist with development of the project. That grant included $51,000,000 for environmental restoration of Wigi/Humboldt Bay.

 

Significant new development of Wigi/Humboldt Bay would be required if a heavy lift terminal is constructed here. This development would almost certainly occur on previously developed lands, such as Redwood Marine Terminal I, which was formerly the site of lumber and plywood mills, a dock, and other industrial activities (and is now owned by the Harbor District).

Conceptual master plan of the proposed Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind & Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal.

Conceptual master plan of the proposed Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind & Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal. 

Source: Humboldt Bay Harbor District (9)

The Hammond Lumber Company and other timber mills operated and carelessly used various toxic chemicals at Redwood Marine Terminal I throughout much of the 20th century, leaving a legacy of soil and groundwater contamination. Before development of the heavy lift terminal could begin, contamination of the site from past uses would need to be assessed and remediated, and the existing dock and structures, which contain harmful materials (creosote, asbestos, lead, etc.), would need to be removed. In May 2023, the Harbor District received (10) a $500,000 Target Brownfields Assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess the extent of contamination.

Drone image of Redwood Marine Terminal I on Wigi/Humboldt Bay.

Drone image of Redwood Marine Terminal I. 

Source: Humboldt Waterkeeper (11)

Port development would include permanent crane installation for the assembly and temporary storage of up to 12 turbines in the bay prior to deployment offshore. These at least 900-foot structures would be highly visible from many locations on Humboldt Bay while they are assembled and temporarily stored nearby before being towed out to the Humboldt WEA. 

 

In order to facilitate both storage and the transportation of offshore wind turbines from the port to the offshore wind energy area, major additional dredging would also be necessary for both the heavy lift terminal and temporary wet storage areas. The Harbor District will be conducting a sediment analysis to analyze the impacts of additional dredging. Direct impacts to Wigi/Humboldt Bay’s eelgrass and mudflats would need to be mitigated, and studies are underway to examine the potential changes in hydrodynamics that might result in erosion and other indirect impacts. There are aquaculture and cultural concerns about dredging, as well; however, some “fishermen think that they could also benefit from increased harbor dredging which is needed for both their use and for the wind industry. The local fishing fleet itself is seasonally plagued with sediment build up and shoaling (which causes increased wave heights due to changes in water depth) in the Bay channel and marina” (see Schatz Energy Research Center’s report on Offshore Wind Energy Stakeholder Benefits and Concerns, pg. 8 [12]).

 

Light, noise, and air pollution are also concerns, during both construction and operation of the proposed heavy lift terminal. Pile-driving, which would be necessary to build the heavy lift terminal and associated docks, is extremely loud and would be audible during construction both above and below water, potentially impacting both humans and wildlife. Although the Harbor District has committed to electrifying the terminal (7) as much as possible, some diesel-fueled heavy equipment would likely be necessary, especially during construction, resulting in some unavoidable air pollution. Particulate matter is especially concerning, since our region is out of compliance with the State’s PM10 standards (13) for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less.

 

There is also a greater risk for biological threats to aquaculture and the bay ecosystem with the additional vessel traffic anticipated with a more active port, and concerns regarding antifouling agents, which can be toxic to shellfish and other aquatic species. At night, lights would likely illuminate parts of the terminal, adding light pollution to Humboldt Bay. 

 

Another potential impact to Humboldt Bay comes from the need to transmit the energy generated by offshore wind turbines throughout the State of California. The California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO)’s current draft transmission plan includes the recommendation of construction of a large substation somewhere in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay in order to gather the electricity generated by the offshore wind turbines on shore. Any such substation would need to go through its own environmental review process. Electrifying the heavy lift terminal would also require upgrading the transmission lines in Wigi/Humboldt Bay that go out to the Samoa Peninsula.


The Harbor District invited (14) scoping comments during summer 2023 (15), is now in the process of developing a Draft Environmental Impact Report (16) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and expects to have the draft report completed by the end of 2024. See the Harbor District’s tentative construction phasing map below, and click here to view the Harbor District’s proposed project timeline (17).

Tentative construction phaseing map for the proposed Humboldt Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal.

Tentative construction phaseing map for the proposed Humboldt Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal. 

Source: Humboldt Bay Harbor District (17)

In addition to the green port resolution noted above, the Harbor District has also passed resolutions supporting a Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) for offshore wind development (18) and the prevention of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) and sex trafficking (19).

 

Listen to this podcast (20) interview with Larry Oetker, former Executive Director of the Harbor District, about port redevelopment plans and what Humboldt Bay may look like in ten years time on the EcoNews Report.


Also watch this video of the Harbor District’s Development Director Rob Holmlund describing the plan to develop an offshore wind heavy lift terminal in Humboldt Bay (21).

References​

  1. Wiyot Tribe. (n.d.). Wiyot Placename Video [Video]. www.wiyot.us/162/Wiyot-Placename-Video 

  2. California State Lands Commission. (2023, July). AB 525 Port Readiness Plan: Final Report. https://slcprdwordpressstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wordpressdata/2023/07/AB525-Port-Readiness-Plan_acc.pdf 

  3. Campbell, R. (2007, May 3). Aerial view of Humboldt Bay and the city of Eureka in Humboldt County, California, USA. View is to the northeast [Image]. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Bay#/media/File:Humboldt_Bay_and_Eureka_aerial_view.jpg

  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. U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (n.d.). Oregon Activities. www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/Oregon

  6. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2024). Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project. https://humboldtbay.org/humboldt-bay-offshore-wind-heavy-lift-marine-terminal-project-3 

  7. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2020, January 24). A Resolution Committing the District to Developing and Adopting a Green Terminal Strategy and Roadmap for the New Heavy Lift Multipurpose Terminal to Support the Offshore Wind Industry. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/Resolution%202024-01%20Adopting%20a%20Green%20Terminal%20Strategy.pdf

  8. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2023, August 21). Application to Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity (MPDG) Program Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind MVP (Minimum Viable Port) Project Description. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/FY%202023-24%20MPDG%20Humboldt%20Bay%20Offshore%20Wind%20MVP%20Proposal%20Package_reducedfilesize.pdf 

  9. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2022, May 7). Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind & Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal: Conceptual Master Plan [Image]. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/Fig%202%20%20HUMBOLDT%20MARINE%20TERMINAL%20Master%20Plan%205.7.22_reduced.pdf 

  10. Jared Huffman. (2023, May 26). Huffman Announces Over $1.45 Million to California’s Second District Through Investing in America Agenda for Cleanup and Technical Assistance at Polluted Brownfield Sites. https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-announces-over-145-million-to-californias-second-district-through-investing-in-america-agenda-for-cleanup-and-technical-assistance-at-polluted-brownfield-sites 

  11. Nardi, O. (n.d.). Drone image of the proposed Heavy Lift Terminal site known as Redwood Marine Terminal I [Image]. Humboldt Waterkeeper. https://humboldtwaterkeeper.org/images/stories/RMT1-Nardi%20SML.jpg 

  12. Schatz Energy Research Center. (2020, September). California North Coast Offshore Wind Studies Stakeholder Benefits and Concerns. https://schatzcenter.org/pubs/2020-OSW-R21.pdf ​

  13. County of Humboldt. (n.d.). 3.12 Air Quality. Humboldt County General Plan Revised Draft EIR. https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/58841/Section-312-Air-Quality-Revised-DEIR-PDF 

  14. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (n.d.). Comments Received in Response to the Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal Project. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/0_WindTerminal%20NOP%20Comments-Redacted-optimized.pdf 

  15. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2023, July 19). Notice of Extended Comment Period for the Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal Project. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/Humboldt%20Bay%20Marine%20Terminal%20-%20NOP%20-%20Review%20Extension%20-%202023%200719.pdf 

  16. 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 

  17. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2023, October 9). SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT TO: Receive Status Update Regarding Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/Supplemental_SR-MarineTerminalProject_StatusReport_231009.pdf 

  18. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2023). Resolution No. 2023-05: A Resolution of the Board of Commissioners Concerning Offshore Wind Development Off the West Coast of the United States and Around Humboldt Bay. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/Resolution%202023-05%20Offshore%20Wind%20Development.pdf 

  19. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. (2024). Resolution No. 2024-04: A Resolution Affirming the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District’s Commitment to the Prevention of Sex Trafficking and “Missing and Murdered Indigenous People” in Association with the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Terminal Project. https://humboldtbay.org/sites/humboldtbay.org/files/Resolution%202024-04%20Affiring%20Committment%20to%20the%20Prevention%20of%20Sex%20Trafficking%20and%20MMIP_SIGNED.pdf 

  20. LoCo Staff. (2022, December 17). THE ECONEWS REPORT: Port Redevelopment to Support Offshore Wind Construction. Lost Coast Outpost. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2022/dec/17/econews-report-port-redevelopment-support-offshore/ 

  21. Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, & Conservation District. (2023, November 3). Humboldt OSW Port [Video]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GT740NXkJrhuv6ShbkuYva_3MJhYGhbj/view

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