FAQ

As an abundant clean energy source, offshore wind is a crucial part of reducing reliance on fossil fuel power generation, which releases pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to ocean warming and climate change. 

In order to achieve a successful clean energy transition while ensuring reliability, California needs a diverse clean energy portfolio. A wide range of clean energy sources, such as onshore and offshore wind, solar, geothermal, and battery storage, is necessary to tackle climate change and reach California’s carbon neutrality goal.

Lifecycle emissions analysis of wind turbines typically measure the climate impacts in terms of grams of carbon (i.e. carbon dioxide and methane) emitted per kilowatt hour of electricity generated. Despite differing estimates, all research agrees that offshore wind power produces considerably less greenhouse gases (i.e. carbon) than almost all other forms of electricity generation. 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that offshore wind energy produces 8–35 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) or its equivalent (CO2eq) per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generated (gCO2eq/kWh). To put that in perspective, their estimates for life cycle emissions for other sources of energy such as coal (740–910 gCO2eq/kWh) and methane gas (410–650 gCO2eq/kWh) are significantly higher. 

Additionally, studies show an offshore wind turbine typically takes between 6 and 12 months to “pay back” its manufacturing emissions by generating clean energy. In general, the payback periods are much lower than the lifetime of the wind turbine itself.

Offshore wind has been developed responsibly around the world, with rigorous avoidance plans, and robust mitigation measures that significantly reduce potential impacts on marine life. Federal law requires developers to study the distribution, abundance, and behavior of marine species in the area. 

Many federal, state, and local entities have created mitigation procedures called best management practices (BMPs) which include the incorporation of procedures or materials that may be used to reduce either direct or indirect negative impacts to habitats that result from project construction-related activities. 

Developers have already begun to scan the ocean floor off of San Luis Obispo in order to identify sensitive habitats and resources and plan for mitigation of any impacts. Additional research into best mitigation practices specific to the Central Coast will allow for more targeted mitigation designed for our region.

The turbines will be as tall as the Eiffel Tower, approximately 330 m (1,083 ft). However, they will be located 20 to 60 miles off the coast and are not expected to be highly visible from shore. Explore visual simulations from BOEM here.

No new significant port industrialization on the Central Coast is likely to result from the current leases. Port Hueneme and Port San Luis are interested in being utilized as operations and management ports for offshore wind, requiring only minor upgrades to the existing ports. 

The Ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Humboldt Bay will be the sites for the largest facilities, where staging and integration will take place (in other words, this is where offshore wind components will be received, staged, and stored and where floating turbine systems get assembled).