Offshore wind electricity could bring employment gains, cost savings, carbon dioxide reductions, and improve the stability of California’s electric grid according to a new study from the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.
California’s Offshore Wind Electric Opportunity highlights the economic impacts available as the Golden State seeks to take advantage of its coastal location by farming this natural energy resource.
The study estimates that developing 10GW would contribute toward total resource cost savings of approximately $1bn (€0.86bn).
Building those wind facilities could create up to 65,000 jobs during the construction phases and up to 4,500 operation and maintenance jobs for the entire lifetime of the facilities.
Schwarzenegger Institute faculty fellows and USC Price School of Public Policy research professors Adam Rose and Dan Wei served as main authors of the report.
Rose said: “Offshore wind energy is an enormous economic opportunity for the state of California.
“Developing 10GW of offshore wind could deliver thousands of job opportunities to hard-hit communities, while saving Californians billions through lower electricity rates.”
In 2018, California passed SB 100, the California 100% Clean Energy Act.
It set the goal for California, the world’s fifth-largest economy, to produce all carbon-free electricity by 2045.
The joint agency report produced as part of the bill concluded that 10 gigawatts of offshore wind was needed to cost-effectively achieve that goal.
The Schwarzenegger Institute report explains the potential for offshore wind to play a pivotal role in meeting the goals set by SB 100, and how California is well situated to become a global hub for offshore wind development.
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured) said: “I have always said that California needs an all of the above energy strategy and there is no doubt that offshore wind is an important part of that portfolio.
“By deploying this clean energy resource, we can create thousands of jobs and meet our energy demands, all while reducing emissions and cleaning up our air.
“At the Schwarzenegger Institute, we are committed to finding solutions that reduce air pollution and climate change.”
The report acknowledges that there are challenges that must be addressed in order for offshore wind to reach its full potential in California.
These include affordability, development of transmission infrastructure and effects on the ocean environment and wildlife.
Chiu and Friedman authored the current legislation, AB 525, to answer the call of SB 100 by starting state agencies on the path toward planning and addressing these barriers.
California already is a world leader in renewable energy, and offshore wind seems like the next piece of the puzzle to reach the state goal of producing 140 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage by 2045.
Constant winds at higher speeds over water make offshore wind a more reliable and efficient method of power generation.
That could be what keeps the lights on for Californians in the future, as wildfires resulting from climate change increasingly lead to power outages.
Offshore wind energy production also is the perfect complement to California’s growing solar grid.
In the evening hours when solar energy declines is when wind energy typically peaks.
Friedman said: “Offshore wind power could not be coming at a better time for California.
“With climate change threatening power supplies across the Western US, having a local source of clean power that complements California’s solar generation will be invaluable in coming decades.”