California Offshore Wind Leases
- Where are California’s offshore wind leases?
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held an auction for two wind area developments in California. The first area is off the coast of Humboldt Bay. The second area is off the coast of Cambria and Morro Bay.
- What are California’s current offshore wind leases?
California has two active leasing areas for offshore wind development that may produce 4.6 GW. California has five leases (three in the Central Coast region and two in the Humboldt Bay region) that went into effect on June 1, 2023. For each of these leases, the lease holders negotiated with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for credits for workforce, lease area use, and general use.
Workforce credits are designed to meet the workforce training needs and supply chain development. Workforce training must be provided in the United States to citizens of the United States or individuals with permanent residence. Lease Area Use credits are intended to be used to mitigate for potential impacts from the use of the leased area.
Leaseholder
Ownership
Auction price
Workforce Credits
Lease Area Use Credits
General use Credits
Central Coast
Atlas Offshore Wind
Equinor- Norwegian multinational*
$100,000,000
$20,000,000
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
Central Coast
Golden State Wind
Ocean Winds [joint venture of Spain-based EDP Renewables and French-based ENGIE]/Canada Pension Plan
$120,240,000
$24,098,000
$6,012,000
0
Central Coast
Invenergy
Invenergy – American multinational
$111,769, 231
$22,353,846
$5,558,462
$5,588,462
Humboldt Bay
RWE
RWE- German Multinational
$121,307,692
$24,261,538
$6,065,385
$6,065,385
Humboldt Bay
California North Floating
Vineyard Wind- 50% Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and 50% Iberdrola subsidiary Avangrid Renewables, headquartered in Portland, Oregon
$133,692,308
$26,738,462
$6,684,615
$6,684,615
*(67% owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries)
- What are the plans for additional leasing off the coast of California?
In 2024, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a 5-year plan for additional leases off the California coast. These lease sales are expected to take place in late 2027 or early 2028.
The following map produced by the California Energy Commission as part of requirements under AB525 to develop a strategic plan for offshore wid development shows existing leases and “areas of interest” and “ suitable sea space” for potential future wind development including areas off the counties of Monterey, Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino.
