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Wind energy plans collapsing, time is on our side

August 3, 2026

OPINION by TRICIA BOAZ

Time. I have been thinking a lot about time. The quality time we spend with our families and friends, exercising, meditating, working, sleeping, worrying – everyday living. Our time is precious. Each moment on earth is a gift – we are empowered to invest our time in what builds a better person, stronger community, optimistic nation and thriving planet.

A major concern with California’s dystopian plan for floating offshore wind is the significant time and effort required to oppose it. We need to defend our community against the people elected to represent us.

Our local, state and federal officials completely ignore us. Environmental organizations that traditionally oppose industrialization of our ocean and ports, spew the propaganda fed to them by the wind industry.

Now, time appears to be in our favor. The true economic, environmental, and societal realities previously hidden by the wind developers are known. The inconvenient truths and negative outlook for the offshore wind industry have led to global and local repercussions.

Globally, offshore wind projects face growing opposition and curtailments:

Once a world leader in offshore wind, Norway’s floating wind initiative is collapsing.

A leaked report commissioned by the UK’s National Energy System Operator warns that the swift shift to net zero is raising blackout risks and electricity costs. It notes that the rapid expansion of decentralized renewables has reduced grid operators’ ability to monitor supply and demand on the Great Britain network.

In Japan, Equinor terminated its offshore wind business. In South Korea, Equinor and RWE have significantly reduced their offshore wind pursuits.

In the United States, several offshore wind projects on the East Coast have been cancelled as the harm to ocean wildlife cannot be ignored. There is increasing resistance to a planned offshore wind project on Lake Erie because of concerns about harmful environmental impacts, as well as potential economic losses affecting tourism, spending, jobs, waterfront property values, and tax revenue.

Locally, two of three lessees, Invenergy and Golden State Wind, voluntarily cancelled their offshore wind leases off Morro Bay.

Clean Energy Terminals, the project developer of a proposed operations and maintenance facility at Port San Luis, terminated its contract with the port. This led Port San Luis to postpone its decision to accept a $3 million grant from the California Energy Commission – a decision which as of the date of this newsletter – has not been made.

Timing is everything. It is time for California to move on from its floating offshore wind nightmare. It is time for our governor, attorney general, elected representatives and the offshore wind proponents to stop wasting our time (and money).

REACT Alliance will continue to spend our time opposing California’s fairytale energy plans. Our efforts are making a difference!

REACT Alliance is a nonpartisan community-led grassroots effort that has been opposing plans for wind energy farms off the coast of Morro Bay.

 


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12 Comments

High speed rail, giant floating wind turbines 20 miles off shore where’s the humanity?


1

Facts.


Hey tree huggers, if you want green energy, demand more nuclear energy not less.


Multi-generational Californians against off-shore wind nonsense!


7

Placing these monstrosities off shore is just not a wise idea… just to bring in one set of windmill blades will take several wide load diesel trucks… the damage to our air quality alone should be looked at…. no thanks…


23

The truth is that because of Trump the US has retreated from offshore wind. But, definitely not so in the rest of the world.


In fact, other advanced and developing economies alike are embracing wind power as they look to build out supplies of domestic and renewable electricity, a goal that is growing more important as the Middle East conflict leaves many nations short on oil and natural gas.


Contrary to what Ms. Boaz is saying, global offshore wind capacity rose by over 9 gigawatts in 2025, up 16% from the previous year’s installations, bringing the world’s total offshore wind capacity to about 92 GW, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. In addition, land based wind projects saw record gains as well, adding over 155 GW in 2025.


All told, nearly 1,300 GW of wind turbine installations are now providing power to nearly 140 countries worldwide, according to GWEC.


For some reason, Americans do not want to deal with climate change or to embrace new technology. Instead, we open more drilling, onshore and offshore to oil companies who are reaping astronomical profits on America’s inability to wean itself off fossil fuels.


-17

I’ll give you the increase in power production. But…


…at what cost?


Britain, who has so many windmills and solar fields that they produce 50% of all energy in the UK (but only when the sun shines, and the wind blows), has the highest individual user price for electricity in Europe.


The socialist based countries citizens pay the smallest monthly bills, but their power generation receives huge government subsidies from the very high national taxes on citizens.


France, which has abundant nuclear generation (and even sells the excess to Britain and most of Europe), has the lowest cost per individual for electricity.


You have argued over and over, that renewables LOWER the user cost of electricity. As the world shows, it’s just not true.


5

We haven’t been kind to oil production or development, that’s why our price at the pump is a $1.50 more than other states. Wind turbines off Morro Bay or Humboldt is a horrible idea. Build them in the desert. Ocean windmill concepts are the next high speed rail. REACT member and proud to be one.


5

John Steinbeck is rolling in his grave


6

Maybe so, But their Batteries are NOT Green!! They have hidden the true damage the Moss Landing battery fire caused. And they’ve ignored the impact to our Marine Life. They are experimental, obviously. Or did they really expect the risk of uncontrollable fires releasing those heavy metals into our air, water and earth? I am sure we will soon discover the scope of the real damage it has caused. They so far have squashed efforts to expose the evidence of the damage. But that won’t last forever. People and animals were forced to breath that toxic smoke. And its still in the soil? They were affected as far as the Sierra Foothills!

IF they can find a battery that won’t catch fire, I am not against windmills, just not in our oceans!! WE have plenty of hills to put them a top of. I found it ironic that Dawn Addis said she wanted to protect our oceans but was all for the windmills? I think this is really more about $ in their pockets, rather than protecting our environment.


4

OH! And I find it absurd that Paulding secretly had a battery storage facility put within 1000 ft. of a neighborhood! No one heard about it until the deal was done? Why the secret? IF these storage facilities were so Green, why hide it? Now those people need to be concerned about being exposed to a highly Toxic fire 1000 ft away? How could he willingly put people at risk? And what about the value of their properties? Would you buy a house within 1000 ft of a potentially Toxic threat? That was a crappy way to treat his own constituents.


3

Well said. Now if only we could get CA Government to walk away from that stupid high speed rail to nowhere. $15 billion and counting; nothing to show for it but waste and graft.


56

Amen!


27

For less than a fourth of that we could now have a dependable 90 mph train up and down the coast, on existing track. More sidings, track improvements, positive track control tech, and better rolling stock. This high speed rail project is a colossal boondoggle!


6