US auctions first wind farm leases off California coast

Even with the push for more renewable energy sources, commercial-scale offshore wind farms are still rare. But the tides may be changing.

On Tuesday, California held the first lease auction in the United States to develop offshore wind farms. A total of five lease zones went up for auction. Two zones off the state’s northern shores and three off the central coast.

The turbines will either float on giant triangular platforms or buoyant cylinders with cables anchoring them to the ocean floor. The turbines could be as tall as the Eiffel Tower and will be placed about 25 miles from the coastline. Native tribes in the coastal region are concerned about the turbines being visible from sacred prayer spots.

“In absolutely perfect conditions, crystal clear on the best days, at the highest point, you might be able to see small dots on the horizon,” said Larry Oetker, the executive director of the Humbolt Bay Harbor, Conservation and Recreation District.

The first offshore wind farm in the U.S. came online in 2016 off the coast of Rhode Island. The offshore wind farms off California’s coast will be the first commercial-scale wind farm in the U.S. and will have the potential to produce 4.5 gigawatts of energy. There are plans to develop similar offshore sites off the Oregon coast next year and in the Gulf of Maine by 2024.

The proposed offshore wind farms also serve as the latest confrontation between green energy proponents and some environmental groups.

Supporters contend wind energy should be a crucial part of any carbon-neutral initiative. But critics counter there is not enough known about how offshore wind farms can impact the environment. They say whales could get stuck in the cables anchoring the turbines, and bats and birds could collide with the spinning turbine blades.

However, with the cost of developing offshore wind dropping by 60% since 2010, and with President Biden’s goal of developing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, green energy backers seem to have the advantage, at least for now.

The Associated Press contributed to this report