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Industry experts, state leaders, and energy advocates convened at the 2025 Pacific Offshore Wind Summit this week to celebrate California’s continued commitment to scaling offshore wind as a cornerstone of its clean energy transition. Hosted by Offshore Wind California (OWC), the event highlighted the state’s recent milestones and urged continued investment in floating wind infrastructure, workforce development, and supply chain growth.
Speakers commended California for maintaining momentum in deploying gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power, a move seen as critical to achieving energy independence and positioning the state as a global hub for floating wind technology and green jobs.
In 2024, California made significant progress with the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) adoption of the final AB 525 strategic plan and the California Public Utilities Commission’s approval to procure up to 7.6 GW of offshore wind by 2035–2037. Voters also passed Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond that earmarked $475 million to upgrade ports for offshore wind development.
“California is fully committed to getting to 100% clean energy and offshore wind has an important role to play in that effort,” said David Hochschild, Chair of the CEC. “Our focus now will be on deploying $475 million in funding for port infrastructure upgrades to support offshore wind, as a result of California voters approving Prop 4 last fall.”
The state’s offshore wind ambitions are anchored by five federal leases issued in 2022 for sites 20–30 miles off the California coast, totaling an initial development capacity of 7–10 GW. These lease areas—off Morro Bay and Humboldt—are located largely out of sight and collectively drew $757 million in bids from five developers.
“Supporting California’s development of offshore wind is important to the Port of Long Beach,” said Suzanne Plezia, Chief Harbor Engineer at the Port. “It will require a multi-port strategy to develop floating wind. Pier Wind would be the nation’s largest purpose-built offshore wind facility, designed to be an efficient floating wind turbine assembly hub,” she added. “Pier Wind will also support thousands of good-paying, family-sustaining wage jobs. We’re not just meeting the moment; we’re shaping what comes next.”
California Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (51st District), a key proponent of SB 867—the legislation that authorized the Prop 4 bond—emphasized the economic promise of the sector. “California has the opportunity to become a powerhouse for offshore wind. We need to continue focusing on our port infrastructure for offshore wind, right now. Offshore wind is more than just clean energy, it is an economic engine,” said Zbur.
Adam Stern, Executive Director of OWC, underscored the state’s readiness and the industry’s momentum: “The future is bright for California offshore wind – which is vital for our energy security, independence, grid reliability, and jobs. As an industry, we’re focused and moving forward on what is advancing offshore wind in California. Over the next four years, California has much of what it needs to continue moving forward – on ports, transmission, and more. That’s a course we intend to stay.”
California is also strengthening its global leadership by partnering with nations such as Norway, Scotland, Denmark, Japan, and China, and joining the Global Offshore Wind Alliance in 2023.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), California holds 200 GW of offshore wind potential. The deployment of 25 GW could power up to 25 million homes, supply 15–20% of California’s future clean energy needs, and create thousands of jobs. Reports also highlight that floating offshore wind can deliver affordable and reliable electricity while driving economies of scale in the clean energy market.
As deep waters off the West Coast necessitate floating platforms, California’s early moves in this space place it at the forefront of the global transition to offshore wind.
