Where is Del Norte County in the process of having offshore wind on its coast?

Del Norte County has a minimum of about a decade before any offshore wind energy production happens, the need for construction jobs could be felt in Del Norte County as soon as 2030 with another uptick in 2040. (1)

 

The Schatz Energy Research Center prepared a report, “Del Norte County Offshore Wind Preliminary Feasibility Assessment,” in May of 2021 for the Crescent City Harbor District. It is intended to provide preliminary information regarding the possibility of offshore wind development off the Del Norte County Coast. (2)

 

To help answer the community's questions regarding offshore wind development on the coast, EPIC hosted an offshore wind information panel in Crescent City. This event was designed to help inform the community on the ecological concerns regarding offshore wind and the research that is being done to identify and reduce the potential impacts from offshore wind on birds, marine mammals, and turtles.

 

• The panel presentation featured Audubon’s Director of Public Policy Mike Lynes, who presented Audubon’s recent report, “Birds and Offshore Wind,” that identifies potential impacts of offshore wind projects on birds and solutions to those impacts. (3)

 

• Brandon Southall, who is the Chief Scientist at the California Ocean Alliance and professor at UC Santa Cruz, presented on ongoing research being done to identify the potential impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles from offshore wind. 

 

• Tom Wheeler, the Executive Director and Attorney from EPIC, discussed why EPIC supports responsible offshore wind development, where the North Coast is in the permitting process, and how the new federal administration will affect offshore wind lease areas.

A recording of this panel is available here.