Port Of Long Beach Secures $20 Million For Landmark 400‑Acre Offshore Wind Terminal

The Port of Long Beach has secured a $20 million award from the California Energy Commission to advance the Pier Wind offshore wind hub. The funding will support engineering, environmental assessments, business planning, and community engagement needed before construction begins.

The Pier Wind project is a proposed $4.7 billion facility spanning 400 acres. It will serve as a staging, storage and assembly hub for some of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, structures comparable in height to the Eiffel Tower.

Once assembled, these turbines will be towed by sea to lease areas 20 to 30 miles offshore in central and northern California. The facility is intended to help the state reach its goal of generating 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2045, sufficient to power approximately 25 million homes.

The Port of Long Beach will match $11 million in funding, with the $20 million award representing the largest single allocation under the Offshore Wind Energy Waterfront Facility Improvement Program.

This programme is supported by Proposition 4, a $475 million climate bond measure approved by California voters in 2024 to fund port infrastructure projects linked to offshore wind. The Port intends to apply for additional funding from Proposition 4 as more resources become available.

The construction could begin as early as 2027. The first 200 acres may be finished by 2031, with the full project operational by 2035. An independent study estimates it could create over 6,000 jobs, $8 billion in wages, $14.5 billion in economic output, and $1.3 billion in state and local taxes by 2045.

Port of Long Beach officials said Pier Wind will be a key part of California’s offshore wind energy plan, helping achieve energy independence, strengthen the power grid, and promote electrification. The project is expected to create jobs in manufacturing, engineering, construction, and maintenance.

State political leaders described the funding as an important investment in the state’s renewable energy future. They said that Pier Wind could boost economic growth, create jobs, and support workforce diversity, including opportunities for women and previously incarcerated individuals.

Pier Wind is undergoing environmental review with local, state, and federal agencies, including public consultations. In 2024, the California Energy Commission adopted a strategic plan highlighting the importance of seaports, such as Long Beach, as critical hubs for offshore wind turbine assembly and deployment.

To support this, the California State Lands Commission and the ports of Long Beach and Humboldt signed an agreement to coordinate permitting, community engagement, environmental justice, and workforce development.

Reference: Port of Long Beach

Source: Maritime Shipping News