California governor calls for 20GW offshore wind by 2045

Newsom wrote to the California Air Resources Board on Friday (22 July), demanding an accelerated climate plan that achieved both the state’s 2030 climate goal to slash emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and state carbon neutrality by 2045.

The offshore wind goal is higher than has previously been proposed. 

In a draft report published in May, the California Energy Commission (CEC) had called for a goal of 3GW for 2030 and up to 15GW by 2045.

The CEC’s draft climate neutrality roadmap had said there is a potential for 20GW of offshore wind by 2050 – if there are sufficient technical improvements. 

A federal lease auction of offshore wind power tracts off California is due to be held this autumn. It will be the first offshore wind auction off the US Pacific coast, where floating wind farms will be the norm because of the deep waters. 

California is the equivalent of the fifth largest economy in the world.

Calling for the accelerated climate plan, Newsom said: “The state’s draft carbon neutrality road map doesn’t go far enough or fast enough. That’s why I’m pushing state agencies to adopt more aggressive actions, from offshore wind to climate-friendly homes, and to make sure we never build another fossil fuel power plant in California again.”

Offshore Wind California’s (OWC) executive director Adam Stern welcomed the move, and said: “This is another sign California is serious about ‘going big’ on floating offshore wind, to drive economies of scale and realise the very substantial clean power, climate, and jobs benefits offshore wind can deliver for our state.”

OWC has previously recommended that the state set offshore wind goals of at least 3GW by 2030, 10GW by 2040, and 20GW by 2050.