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April 10, 2025 - In Community‚ Government‚ Local Resilience‚ News By Marketing Communications 0

CORE Hub April 2025 Newsletter

Good Afternoon Community Partners,

Here is your newsletter on offshore wind and related interests.

Upcoming opportunities for leadership and learning:

  • Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Board of Commissioners Meeting Thursday April 10 at 6pm
    • Agenda packet here
    • Location: Woodley Island Marina Meeting Room, 601 Startare Drive, Eureka, CA 95501
    • By zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6917934402
      • note: public comment is not yet possible by zoom; the District will be implementing the option for public comment by zoom at its May 8 meeting
    • The following presentations will be included as part of the wind terminal status update (for more info see agenda packet pdf page 40). This is a great opportunity to learn more about the project!
      • Wharf design (including seismic)
      • Wet storage
      • Hydrodynamic model and navigation assessment
      • Ship traffic modeling
      • Two additional items could be presented but may be delayed to a future meeting: navigation assessment and tow-out simulation
    • Other offshore wind related items on the agenda include
      • 11.a) letter of support for AB472 on offshore wind port infrastructure – pdf page 42 (more info on the bill is included below) and
      • 11.b) authorization to execute a grant agreement with the California Energy Commission to fund project design, Tribal participation, and community engagement – pdf page 47 (more info about the grant is included below)
    • Each month as part of the wind terminal update, a series of short presentations is offered on the project. The March 13 meeting of the Harbor District Board of Commissioners included presentations on the Green Terminal Roadmap, the Great Redwood Trail, WIM Work Dock and Fishermen Storage, the Community Benefit Program and SAP, dredging and marine geotech. To check out those presentations and staff updates on the project, check out this recording of the meeting, starting at 23:20.
  • California Climate Bond: Grant Programs Feedback
    • The California Natural Resources Agency wants input on how to get Proposition 4 Climate Bond funding out into communities. Please consider participating in their survey by April 18, 2025 (closes at 5 PM)
      • This survey is composed of 27 questions about grant opportunities, the grant application process, and grant management post-award. Answer whatever questions are applicable to you and your organization’s experiences and skip whatever does not apply.
        • Background: In November 2024, California voters approved a $10 billion Climate Bond to strengthen climate resiliency across the state, including in the areas of renewable energy ($475 million for port offshore wind infrastructure; $325 million for transmission infrastructure; $50 million for battery storage), sea level rise and coastal resilience, forest health and wildfire prevention, land conservation and habitat restoration, farms and agriculture, parks, and extreme heat. The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) will serve as the coordinating agency for the rollout of the Climate Bond. 
  • Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) is recruiting a part-time intern to support RCEA’s Regulatory and Legislative Policy division. The Regulatory and Legislative Policy intern will learn to identify, read and analyze applicable legislation and regulations. The intern will work directly with the Regulatory and Legislative Policy Manager to summarize and prepare presentations on application legislation and regulations for presentation to RCEA Staff, the Board of Directors, and/or the local community. This is an excellent opportunity to start a career in energy and gain direct experience with legislative and regulatory policies.
    • This position is open until filled. First review of applications is April 21, 2025.
    • learn more here
  • Impacts on Shipping and Commercial, Tribal, and Recreational Fisheries from Development of Renewable Energy on the West Coast
    • A committee of the National Academies will assess potential impacts from offshore renewable energy development in waters of the west coast on maritime traffic and Tribal, commercial and recreational fisheries. It will include a literature review and public information gathering sessions to document the historic and current uses of areas considered for renewable energy development and assess potential impacts from installation and operation of renewable energy structures. The report will outline recommendations for government consideration during the decision-making process for offshore wind development. 
    • Committee Meeting 3, April 22-23, open to the public
  • Partnering For Ocean, Wind and Energy Renewables in California (POWER CA)
    • May 6-8 at Bear River Rancheria’s Tish-Non Community Center, located in Loleta, CA
    • The County of Humboldt’s Economic Development Division is hosting the third-annual Partnering for Ocean, Wind and Energy Renewables in California (POWER CA) conference, taking place 
    • Register here
    • For more information, check out this March 25 Lost Coast Outpost Article: Big Offshore Wind Conference Coming to Humboldt in May

Recent Events and Updates:

  • What is Central Procurement and Why Is It Being Used for Offshore Wind in California?
    • New section of North Coast Offshore Wind: FAQs website hosted and created by the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) in partnership with Humboldt Waterkeeper, the Redwood Climate & Community Resilience (CORE) Hub, and the Blue Lake Rancheria.
  • The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) hosted an Offshore Wind Information Panel in Crescent City on Friday, March 14th, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    • EPIC Offshore Wind Panel Stirs Little Local Interest
      • Redwood Voice, March 18, 2025
      • Speakers discussed the risks to birds and marine mammals, including collision, habitat disruption, and noise pollution, while also emphasizing the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy to combat climate change. The event highlighted the need for further research on the specific effects on local species and addressed the spread of misinformation. Organizers stressed the importance of educating the community about the potential benefits and costs of offshore wind energy, especially given the changing political landscape and the ongoing need for climate action.
  • Mass Layoffs at Companies Working on Humboldt Offshore Wind Projects; At Least Some Local People Laid Off
    • Lost Coast Outpost, March 11, 2025
    • In the face of uncertainty for offshore wind under the Trump Administration, RWE and Vineyard Offshore have implemented layoffs of US staff due to related market instability and changing federal policies. RWE let their entire local team go. The local team at Vineyard is still in place. 
  • Humboldt Bay Harbor District Awarded $18 million by California Energy Commission (CEC) Offshore Wind Energy Waterfront Facility Improvement Program 
    • Last month, Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District was awarded $18 million by the California Energy Commission. The District’s Board of Commissioners will vote on approving execution of the grant agreement at their April 10 meeting. 
    • The grant will fund a range of activities at the District related to the wind terminal project, including:
      • Engagement with Tribes, stakeholders, the community, and regulatory agencies. 
      • Funds directly for Tribes for capacity building. 
      • Stipends for community members seeking to participate in advisory committees and other roles. 
      • Media materials, graphic display materials, social media content, and a new website. 
      • Advancement of green terminal planning. 
      • Workforce strategy development. 
      • Vessel navigation simulations. 
      • Additional visual simulations per the request of interested parties and affected communities. 
      • Additional noise studies at the request of interested parties and affected communities. 
      • Other additional technical studies per the request of interested parties and affected communities. 
      • Advanced engineering design and environmental studies for the Terminal Project and related community benefit and mitigation efforts. 
      • Analysis of the potential need to modify the federal navigation channel. 
      • Marine mammal and bird monitoring. 
      • Advancement of mitigation planning and analysis. 
      • Design of Woodley Island Marina work dock and commercial fishing equipment storage improvements. 
      • Design and permitting for relocation of existing tenants at the Terminal Project site. 
      • Geotechnical and sediment characterization investigation that involves analysis of sediment samples that will be obtained by taking marine borings at the Terminal Project site. The marine boring field investigations will follow common best management practices to avoid impacts to sensitive habitats (i.e., eelgrass) and cultural resources. 
      • Construction cost estimating.

Resources, Information and Academic Articles:

  • Rewiring for Justice: How California Can Power Equitable Transmission (2025)
    • Brightline Defense 2025
    • New and upgraded transmission is needed to guarantee access to clean, reliable, and affordable power. This report provides information, strategies, tools and case studies that California policymakers, regulators, and other interested parties can use to support equitable transmission planning and development that avoids harms and maximizes benefits for underserved communities and Tribal Nations, collectively referred to as environmental justice (EJ) communities. 
  • How the Klamath Dams Came Down
    • Project by Grist, Mar 19, 2025
    • This resource is a deep dive into the story of the decades-long fight by tribal nations in Oregon and California and subsequent removal of four dams on the Klamath River, the biggest dam removal project in U.S. history. 

State and Federal Updates:

  • Update on Assembly Bill 3 California Offshore Wind Advancement Act
    • AB 3 was passed in 2023 and requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop a report on a second phase seaport readiness strategy for offshore wind (due to the Governor and Legislature by December 31, 2026) and to conduct a feasibility study on achieving 50% and 65% in-state assembly and manufacturing of offshore wind energy projects (report due to the Governor and the Legislature by December 31, 2027).
      • CORE Hub will be working with partners to engage in and inform the seaport readiness strategy later this year.  
    • At the end of last month, the California Energy Commission opened a new docket for content and comments related to the reports and related processes described above, titled Assembly Bill 3 California Offshore Wind Advancement Act with the docket number 25-AB-3. To receive updates on this docket, subscribe to the CEC’s Offshore Renewable Energy listserv here.
  • California Coastal Commission and Offshore Wind FAQs
    • Overview of California Coastal Commission’s role in the state’s efforts to develop offshore wind energy. It outlines the state’s goals, the current status of lease development, and the Commission’s responsibilities in ensuring that offshore wind projects are developed in a way that protects coastal resources and communities.
  • Assembly Member Chris Rogers AB-472 Heads Back to Committee on Natural Resources
    • Last week (4/2/25), AB 472 passed in the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy and was re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. 
    • The bill would require the state’s 5-year infrastructure plan to include port infrastructure for offshore wind energy development and related funding needs and opportunities.
  • Oregonians ask Legislature to let voters decide on constitutional right to healthy climate
    • Oregon Capital Chronicle, March 27, 2025
    • A March 27 hearing for Senate Joint Resolution 28 was packed with kids and seniors asking legislators to refer to vote in favor of the bill, which would create a state ballot measure in November 2025 to constitutionally enshrine the “inherent, fundamental right to a clean, safe and healthy environment, including but not limited to clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems and a stable climate system.”  
  • HR 1874 seeks to weaken state oversight of the Coastal Zone Management Act 
    • HR 1874 was introduced in the House on March 5 by California’s 3rd District Congressional Representative Kevin Kiley (the district is in the eastern part of the state and does not include any coastal areas), and is now in the House Committee on Natural Resources, which is chaired by Republican Representative Bruce Westerman and to which Congressman Huffman serves as the Ranking Member.
    • The bill would assert presumed coastal state concurrence with a range of federal actions in coastal zones, eroding the current structure that supports a more collaborative approach to ensuring federal decisions align with state coastal management programs. An example of a key state concurrence process was the conditional concurrence of the consistency determination issued by the California Coastal Commission for BOEM’s Humboldt Wind Energy Area activities. Under HR 1874, it is possible that BOEM would have been presumed to be in concurrence with the State’s coastal management program, therefore bypassing the Coastal Commission process.
    • Relatedly, there are a series of bills currently being considered by the California legislature that would amend the California Coastal Act.
      • The Coastal Commission’s march legislative report provides an overview of the 12 bills that would amend the Coastal Act, which include changes related to commercial fishing and recreational boating, oil and gas development, wildfire prevention activities, housing development, and local emergency declarations
    • A related resource to check out is the April 5 edition of The EcoNews Report with Tom Wheeler (EPIC) and Jennifer Savage (Surfrider), where they discuss efforts to erode coastal protections through targeting of the California Coastal Act (the State’s coastal zone management program) and California Coastal Commission, as well as information on local coastal programs and their role in coastal development.  
  • HR 1808, the Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act of 2025, would amend the Coastal Zone Management Act to establish a working waterfronts Task Force and working waterfronts grant and loan programs (with up to 5% of the program budget going to technical assistance).
    • This bill is also in the House Committee on Natural Resources and has continued to grow support. Congressman Huffman is one of 17 cosponsors, joined by 2 Republicans and 14 Democrats. Climate adaptation is noted as part of the program. The bill also allows for waiver of a grant match requirement for disadvantaged, low income, and small population communities. 
  • NOAA Appoints New General Counsel with Offshore Wind Opposition Background
    • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has appointed Anne “Annie” Hawkins as its new general counsel. Hawkins previously served as the executive director of the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), an organization that has actively opposed offshore wind projects on behalf of the fishing industry. 
    • Hawkins’ appointment comes amid ongoing legal challenges by RODA against various wind farm projects approved under the Biden administration. Notably, RODA has been involved in lawsuits against the Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, and South Fork wind projects.
    • In her previous role, Hawkins argued before Congress about the flaws in the federal approach to offshore wind development, emphasizing the need for better engagement with fishing communities and more robust scientific data.  
    • RODA has also collaborated with NOAA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to improve scientific research and permitting processes.
    • On the other hand, researchers at Brown University prominently listed RODA in a map released in 2023 detailing different key organizations in the American anti-offshore wind movement. 
  • Supreme Court hears arguments about jurisdiction of environmental cases
    • U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments March 25th in a case that could allow states to challenge federal environmental rules in more favorable courts. The case could determine whether certain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations are reviewed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which has more liberal judges, or in regional courts, where certain states and industry groups would prefer to make their arguments. 
    • The dispute centers around EPA’s decision that 21 states’ plans for ozone pollution failed to meet federal Clean Air Act standards. 
  • EPA sets up portal to request Clean Air Act exemptions
    • The Hill, March 27, 2025
    • The Clean Air Act allows the president to exempt polluters from complying with regulations if he determines that the rules are based on technology that does not yet exist. Presidential exemptions could be a way to curtail rules like these while the regulatory process plays out to formally overturn them.  
    • The EPA posted online this week that it had set up an email address allowing companies to more easily request presidential exemptions.
    • The news comes after the EPA recently announced that it planned to roll back a large suite of Biden-era rules, including limits on mercury pollution from power plants and limits on emissions of cancer-causing ethylene oxide.
    • The New York Times first reported on the EPA’s portal. Read more here.
  • The EPA provided a list of grants it has said are canceled to the Sierra Club, which then shared it with Heatmap News. The 49 grants totaling about $230 million to a range of organizations and universities primarily include environmental justice and greenhouse gas emissions programs. The EPA has been accused of knowingly canceling grants without cause, per reporting. 
  • Judge halts EPA effort to claw back green bank funds
  • Trump administration takes steps to expand Arctic drilling, including in contentious wildlife refuge
    • The Hill, March 20, 2025
  • The Interior Department said that it would take steps toward opening the entire 1.56 million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. The Interior Department said that it would seek to open up 82 percent of the separate National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The decision comes after the Biden administration limited drilling there to less than half of the 23 million-acre reserve.   
  • This step is part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order issued January 20 titled Unleashing American Energy.  
  • Bipartisan Bill introduced to expand tribal energy access
    • Tribal Business News, March 27, 2025
    • The Tribal Energy Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) and John Curtis (R-Utah) aims to expand tribal access to federal energy programs by addressing barriers and streamlining technical processes in existing Department of Energy (DOE) programs.

In the news:

  • PG&E foresees ‘path to decrease rates’
    • Mad River Union, April 3, 2025
    • PG&E acknowledged high rate increases and promised stabilization and April bill credits. Despite a small March increase, they claim rates are lower than last year due to reduced wildfire costs. The company asserts rate hikes fund system improvements, not liabilities or profit, and aims for minimal future increases. They also highlighted ongoing infrastructure upgrades and community outreach.
  • North Coast’s Chris Rogers urges CPUC to reject PG&E rate increases
    • Times Standard, March 27, 2025
    • Last Week, 38 California Assembly members, nearly half the California State Assembly,  issued a letter urging the California Public Utilities Commission to reject rate increases proposed by PG&E
  • Rural leaders push Congress to unfreeze climate and environmental funds
    • NPR, April 1, 2025
    • Rural leaders from across the western U.S. and Alaska traveled to Washington D.C. to protest the Trump administration’s freeze on federal funding for climate and environmental projects, arguing these funds are vital for their communities’ economic stability and infrastructure. They emphasized the non-partisan nature of these needs and the disproportionate impact on rural areas with limited tax bases. The funding freeze, stemming from the administration’s focus on boosting fossil fuels, has disrupted essential projects like clean energy development and job training. While lawmakers offered sympathetic ears, concrete action remained uncertain.
  • EPA yanks air quality permit for 1.5-GW Atlantic Shores offshore wind project
    • Utility Dive, March 18, 2025
    • The EPA has decided to reevaluate the Clean Air Act permit for the 1.5-GW Atlantic Shores 1 offshore wind energy project off the coast of New Jersey. This decision, made at the request of the EPA’s Region 2 office, follows Trump’s January 20 presidential order that paused offshore wind leasing and called for a review of existing projects. 
  • Secret Energy Department “hit list” targets renewable energy industry
    • Popular Information, March 27, 2025
    • Energy Secretary Chris Wright, despite promising to support all energy sources during his confirmation, is now attempting to undermine clean energy projects, specifically long-duration energy storage systems.The Department of Energy (DOE) has created a list of clean energy projects, funded by federal grants and loans, that it intends to cancel.This list includes significant cuts to long-duration energy storage projects, crucial for making wind and solar power reliable.The “hit list” also includes substantial cuts to other DOE programs, such as electric vehicle infrastructure and grid modernization projects.These proposed cuts contradict Wright’s earlier pledges to support all energy sources and strengthen the U.S. transmission system.
  • New fire maps put nearly 4 million Californians in hazardous zones. What does that mean for the people who live there?
    • Cal Matters, March 24, 2025
    • California’s wildfire hazard maps have been updated, showing a 168% increase in high-risk zones, impacting millions. This expansion, driven by climate change and improved technology, mandates stricter building codes and disclosure requirements for affected homeowners.While the maps predict wildfire likelihood, they don’t fully capture the spread of conflagrations, future modeling improvements are needed.
  • An environmental news roundup of the 1st two months.
    • Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, March 24, 2025
    • A roundup of climate and environmental news from the first two months of the Trump Administration. 
  • Podcast: On making the world softer and safer ❤️‍🩹, with Rhiana Gunn-Wright
    • March 21, 2025
    • This podcast episode features an interview with Rhiana Gunn-Wright, a key architect of the Green New Deal. 
    • The Green New Deal is often misrepresented by political opponents, particularly the Trump administration. It emphasizes the importance of considering the social and economic impacts of climate policy. Gunn-Wright works on the intersections of climate change with issues like industry, employment, healthcare, and democracy.
  • Puyallup Tribe enters maritime industry with $200M port terminal project
    • Tribal Business News, March 21, 2025
    • The Puyallup Tribe is breaking into global maritime commerce by building its own international shipping terminal on tribal land in southwest Washington, marking one of the first direct entries by a Native nation into the port infrastructure business.
    • The tribe will fund the $200 million project, creating a new terminal with similar capabilities to the existing East Blair Terminal 1, including on-dock rail and carbon reduction technology. The partnership aims to boost regional economic activity, create job opportunities for tribal members, and establish a revenue-sharing agreement.
  • Can a challenge to Vineyard Wind 1 stop other offshore projects? Supreme Court appealed.
    • Cape Cod Times, March 20, 2025
    • A coalition of commercial fishing groups is challenging the federal government’s approval of the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind project, and by extension all offshore development authorizations that followed, in an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance has submitted a petition to the court seeking a review of how the Department of the Interior applied the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to grant authorization for the 806-megawatt development south of Martha’s Vineyard.

Please reach out with your thoughts and questions.

Thank you from the CORE Hub Team! 

Previous CORE Hub March 2025 Newsletter
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