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Coastal Commission signs off on Morro Bay offshore wind farms

June 13, 2022

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

The California Coastal Commission has given approval to the federal government’s plan to create wind farms off the coasts of Morro Bay and Humboldt County. [offshorewind.biz]

Last year, the federal Department of the Interior, in coordination with the Department of Defense, identified a 399-square-mile area northwest of Morro Bay as a location that will support three gigawatts of offshore wind. The federal agency also announced it was advancing wind energy projects located offshore of Humboldt County.

Then in May, the Biden Administration announced plans to auction five offshore areas for wind development, three of which are northwest of Morro Bay and two of which are off of Humboldt County. The Department of the Interior publicized a proposed sale notice for the commercial wind energy leases offshore of Morro Bay and Humboldt County, with proposed auction prices starting at $8 million each.

Last week, the Coastal Commission reviewed whether the leasing process proposed by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is consistent with the California Coastal Act. The commission reviewed BOEM’s plans for regulating site inspections by the auction winners, as well as construction and operation of offshore wind farms.

In separate hearings for the two areas, the Coastal Commission gave approval for both the Central Coast and Northern California projects, with a set of conditions that federal officials must follow.

The auction for the five offshore wind development areas is expected to occur this fall.


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Breaking news! A giant wind spill has been reported off the coast of Morro Bay California. We do not yet know the extent of the spill but understand that it contains mostly clean breathable air.


A far cry from the concerns associated with oil based energy.


-5

And do Morro Bay residents have anything to say about this? Who cares. Welcome to communism where central planners tell you what is best for you.


12

“do Morro Bay residents have anything to say about this?”


Yes.


“communism”

Lol.


-2

Where are the good paying union Job that will manufacture these wind turbines? CHINA


13

Vestas wants a word….


“Vestas is a market leader in the North American wind industry with 42,000 MW installed and 38,000+ MW under service in the U.S. and Canada. Vestas employs more than 6,000 people in the manufacturing, installation, and service of onshore and offshore wind turbines.


Our North American market is served from our Portland, Oregon headquarters with an offshore headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, and we supply turbine components from our two factories in Colorado.


In 2021, Vestas spent $1.7 billion across the USA supply chain with 1,300+ suppliers and $60 million across 172 suppliers in Canada. “


-1

Lets hope that the coastal comm doesn’t approve the battery storage plant in Morro Bay.


10

As the state and federal government continue to fast track and push this on us with no real regard of the effects on the ocean upwellings for nutrients, whale population, and commercial fishermen.

The best part of this entire farce? The proposed wind farm site was carved out of the original National Marine Sanctuary map, but to my understanding the infrastructure will still enter into the NMS.


There have been talks with Castle Wind and the fishermen, but they be dead before a dime is seen.

And that is assuming that Castle Wind wins the bid.


4

Bottom line, this is much needed infrastructure for the nation’s pivot away from fossil fuels. It makes total sense to place this wind farm in this area and I believe that fisherman will not be inconvenienced. The reality is that we will need to mitigate the effects of climate change or else there will simply be no fish left to catch as the oceans continue to warm and current species come under pressure from a changing ecosystem.


Of course, some CCN readers are probably in the Marjorie Taylor Greene camp. She recently said, “We are producing fossil fuels, that keeps people’s houses warm in the winter. That saves people’s lives, people die in the cold. This Earth warming and carbon is actually healthy for us. It helps us to feed people, it helps keep people alive, the Earth is more green than it was years and years ago and that is because of the Earth warming.”


-12

Communism does not allow individuals and towns to determine what is best for them. Such matters are imposed by party loyalists from above and many miles away. Just tell the residents of Morro Bay what is best for them and their town comrade.Just force it down their throats.


6

“Such matters are imposed by party loyalists from above and many miles away.”


So just like the gQp telling people what is best for them and their town. All you need to do is replace comrade with patriot and request some “voluntary” contributions (daddy needs to pay some bills).


-7

Would they give their approval if they were for oil derricks I doubt it. This is a complete waste of money as I’m sure the cost for all this will out way the amount of energy it produces


12

Nice the Coastal Commision gave approval when the state boundry only extends 3 nautical miles offshore and the project is well within federal waters.


25

I saw that movie, Water World?


8

One question… will our power bills go down or up?….


23

Just like those that stayed with CCCE, up, up, up.


24