Wigi/Humboldt Bay is home to a thriving aquaculture industry. Oysters and seaweed are farmed in the bay, and Nordic Aquafarms plans to...

One of the potential environmental impacts of the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Multipurpose Heavy Lift Terminal is increased air pollution. Traditional port operations, that rely on fossil fuels, emit both CO2 as well as criteria pollutants such as NOx, SOx, and Particulate Matter which can impact nearby communities (1). Humboldt currently has some of the cleanest air in the State (2).  ​ In May 2023, local environmental activists started a campaign (3) to ask for the Humbol

A Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is an agreement entered into by a developer and a community to ensure that local community members directly benefit from development in their area and to help address concerns. CBAs have been used for decades in combination with large-scale development and can take many different forms, ranging from funds to support local services to direct investments in infrastructure. ​ The Biden Administration has specifically advanced the use of CBAs

Humboldt Wind Energy Area ​Bathymetry Map Source: Sylvia van Royen, Humboldt Water Keeper  (4) The...

It is notoriously difficult to predict the impact that proposed projects would have on property values. One national study of onshore wind turbines found that homes with a wind turbine within their viewshed saw an average 1% decline  (1) in property value. Properties on Block Island, Rhode Island saw no decline in value  (2) related to the offshore wind farm constructed off their coast. At the same time, increased economic activity in the greater Humboldt area could feasibly

There have been a few instances where wind turbine blades have undergone failure which resulting in a breakage.

All forms of energy production have associated environmental impacts, and offshore wind energy is no different. For all environmental...

Lifecycle emissions analysis  (1) of wind turbines typically measures the climate impacts in terms of grams of carbon emitted per kilowatt hour of electricity generated. This allows comparison between the carbon emitted to manufacture a wind turbine with that emitted during fossil fuel-powered electricity generation. Of course, lifecycle emissions analysis produces an estimate, and so different studies have concluded different total amounts of carbon released by offshore wind

Quillback rockfish ( Sebastes maliger ). Source: CDFW  (6) The main concerns  (1) regarding impacts to...

Work is underway  (1) studying the effects of offshore wind-related electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on marine mammals and other wildlife....

Offshore wind turbines positioned more than 30 miles from the shore cannot efficiently transmit the generated power to the onshore grid...

Bottom trawling, one commercial fishery on the North Coast. ...

According to a 2023 report  (1) from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, depending on make and model, wind turbines are predominantly made of steel (66-79% of total turbine mass); fiberglass, resin or plastic (11-16%); iron or cast iron (5-17%); copper (1%); and aluminum (0-2%). Offshore wind turbines would need additional materials for their platforms, anchors, and other components related to their operation in an offshore environment. ​ The expected life expectancy of

​The process of electricity infrastructure planning in California involves three different agencies. First, the California Energy...

Much of our world relies on steady electricity to function — including hospitals, schools, businesses, and homes. Power outages can cause...

For floating offshore wind turbines like those proposed off the coast of Wigi  (1) Humboldt Bay, there is not yet a specific proposed...

​​According to a 2024 report  (1) by the Clean Air Task Force,  a three- to fourfold increase in transmission capacity will be required...

Offshore wind turbines produce a tremendous amount of electricity — far more than is needed locally here in Humboldt County. Humboldt County has also historically been under invested with transmission infrastructure. Read this report (6) by Arne Jacobsen to learn more about Humboldt's current electric infrastructure. Because our existing transmission infrastructure is extremely limited and insufficient to transmit so much energy to other parts of California, successful imp

Previously, wind turbine components have been difficult to make sustainable due to a few factors. Composite materials that make up...

There is not yet a developer/operator for the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal  (1), which is a project of the...