CORE Hub February 2026 Newsletter

Good Morning and Happy Friday Partners, 

Here is your newsletter on offshore wind and related interests:

CORE Team Update:

• Luis Neuner; Senior Program Officer, Tribal and Indigenous Partnerships is leaving us to attend law school! We will miss him and we are excited to see what he does next. Don’t worry, we have him until May, join us in congratulating and wishing him well on his next steps. 
  • During his time at CORE Hub Luis convened the Tribal Climate Resilience Network and supported projects, initiatives, and collaborations to support challenges facing Tribal sovereignty, climate change, environment, and energy in the Redwood Region and beyond. 
  • Luis is an amazing part of this community and our team. We are so appreciative of the work he did with us. He will go out with a spark, organizing a Trace the Electron tour for Tribal Climate Resilience Network partners and indigenous youth to learn about local & state energy systems, examine how infrastructure is evolving under climate pressure, and what it takes to decarbonize. 
  • On that note: Humboldt Area Foundation and the CORE Hub are hiring for the Senior Program Officer, Tribal & Indigenous Partnerships. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with incredible people on really important issues. We are looking for motivated individuals with strong experience working in tribal communities and with a keen interest in Tribal sovereignty, climate resilience, environmental justice, and energy resilience/decarbonization. See the description for more information.
    • Senior Program Officer, Tribal & Indigenous Partnerships job description
  • This position will remain open until filled, however, priority consideration will be given to those who apply by 8am on February 23, 2026.
  • Please share widely with your networks! 

State Agency Actions and Opportunities for Comment, Learning and Engagement:

• California Coastal Commission Meeting, Thursday, February 5
  • The Commission hosted an informational briefing on the Statewide Strategy for the Coexistence of California Fishing Communities and Offshore Wind Energy, a plan that has been developed over the last two years by the California Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Working Group. The Group and process was convened by the Commission following passage of SB 286 (McGuire) in 2024, and has included representatives from fisheries and related associations, Tribal Nations, wind energy area lessees, and state agencies. 
  • The Strategy is a working document focused on the offshore lease areas and is designed to provide guidance (not regulatory requirements) with the goals of “supporting coexistence from planning to decommissioning, avoiding and minimizing impacts to fisheries and fishing communities, providing fair and reasonable compensation for remaining impacts that were not avoided, minimized or mitigated, and prioritizing fishery productivity, viability, and resilience.” 
  • The Commission is accepting written public comment on the Strategy until 5 p.m. on Mon. February 23 (email comments to osw@coastal.ca.gov). The Strategy will be on the Commission business agenda for potential adoption at their April meeting on the Central Coast (4/15-4/17). 
• Comment Opportunity: Draft Blueprint for Building a West Coast Science Collaborative Now Available
  • CA Ocean Protection Council (OPC)
  • OPC is creating a West Coast Science Collaborative (WCSC) to provide independent and objective scientific expertise and support regulatory decision making and adaptive management. A coordinated and transparent body, informed by subject-matter experts, will help gather, generate, review, and share the best available science-based data and information to guide environmentally responsible offshore wind planning and development along the California Coast.
  •  Public Comment Period Through April 1, 2026
    • Submit public comment using this form
  • OPC will host a public listening session on Wednesday, March 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to walk through the draft Blueprint and answer your questions.
    • Register here
  • The Revised Blueprint will be presented at the OPC Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This hybrid meeting will take place at the California Natural Resources Agency Headquarters Auditorium (715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814) and via Zoom.
• Oregon OSW Roadmap Due Out Soon for Public Comment 
  • OR Department of Land, Conservation, and Development
  • The third draft of the Oregon Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap is expected to be published around February 10. A public comment period will follow with the final Roadmap headed to the legislature in June.

Federal Agency Updates:

• Opportunity for Public Comment on Potential Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Areas in Southern and Central California
  • BOEM Newsroom, January 26, 2026
  • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has issued two Calls for Information and Nominations to gather industry interest and public comment on potential offshore oil and gas leasing areas in Southern and Central California under the Department of the Interior’s 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This marks the first formal step in the federal leasing process; seeking feedback from companies, Tribes, and the public on environmental, economic, and other considerations. The Calls, which outline 6 potential California sale areas proposed in the draft 2026–2031 leasing program, tentatively schedule the first 5 lease sales (Central and Southern CA) in 2027. Information collected during the 30‑day comment period, informs BOEM’s next steps, which could include: 
    • Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Study (likely overlap with timeline for Call for Info and Nominations)
    • Identification of lease areas and NEPA review (2 separate processes, likely to move forward in close proximity or with some overlap)

BOEM is here in their oil and gas program approval and 2027 CA leasing processes:

• The comment period on the Call for Information and Nominations for Southern and Central California ends at 8:59pm PST on Thurs Feb 26. (comments can be submitted through the Federal Register; links available here)
• • Arcata City Council Adopts Resolution Opposing Offshore Oil Drilling
    • Lost Coast Outpost, January 22, 2025
    • The Arcata City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing any new or expanded offshore oil and gas drilling, citing the city’s longstanding environmental values and the risks such activity poses to marine ecosystems. The resolution, prompted by the Trump Administration’s plan to open areas off California and Florida to drilling in 2029, will be sent to state and federal officials and entered into the official public record with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Without debate, the council urged federal agencies and the President to permanently ban offshore drilling along California’s coast, aligning with similar actions taken recently in Eureka.
  • Local and State Leaders Slam Trump Administration’s Offshore Oil Drilling Plan at Packed Eureka Public Meeting
    • Lost Coast Outpost, January 18, 2026
    • More than 100 residents, activists, and elected officials gathered in Eureka to denounce the Trump Administration’s proposal to open West Coast waters to offshore oil drilling, warning of severe environmental and economic risks. Hosted by Surfrider, EPIC, and Humboldt Waterkeeper, the event featured speakers including Representative Jared Huffman, state assemblymembers Chris Rogers and Damon Connelly, and Humboldt County Supervisor Mike Wilson, who cited past oil spills, threats to marine ecosystems, and the importance of coastal industries like tourism and fisheries. While President Trump argues drilling would boost jobs and lower gas prices, attendees stressed that the potential damage far outweighs any benefits and urged permanent protections for California’s coastline. Local leaders also highlighted ongoing legislative and coalition efforts to block offshore drilling.

Resources, Information and Academic Articles:

• Labor Unions and Offshore Wind 101 Part 2: Project Labor Agreements
  • Webinar by the Clean Energy States Alliance, January 15, 2026
  • Slides and a recording of the webinar are available here 
  • Also by CESA:
    •  Offshore Wind Power Hub: Explore offshore wind policies, projects, and lease areas in the United States using the interactive map
  • See more webinars at www.cesa.org/webinars 
• Resources and information from the Harbor District Board of Commissioners Meeting Community Benefit discussion on January 8th:
  • Agenda packet from meeting
  • Meeting recording
    • Community Benefits discussion starts at minute 25:25
  • Citizen Portal; AI generated content of the Harbor District Board of Commissioners meeting  January 8, 2026
    • AI generated article and summary about the January 8 Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District focused on community benefits for the wind terminal project. 
    • District staff presented a detailed framework for community benefits tied to the Humboldt Bay heavy‑lift marine terminal project after the loss of two federal grants, emphasizing built‑in amenities, program options and the district’s limited authority over ocean and transmission components. Public commenters urged legally binding agreements and early community protections.
  • Upcoming meeting: Humboldt Bay Harbor District Board of Commissioners 
    • Thursday, February 12th, 6:00 pm
    • 601 Startare Drive, Eureka CA, 95501
  • Additional Community Benefits resources:
    • Community Benefits Agreements Database
      • Columbia Law School, Sabin Center for Climate Change
    • UC Berkeley Law: Community Benefits Resources
• Driving the Just Transition: Perspectives by Truck Drivers and Community Members on the Trucking Just Transition
  • People’s Collective for Environmental Justice, November 21, 2025
  • Driving the Just Transition: Perspectives by Truck Drivers and Community Members on the Trucking Just Transition explores the environmental and economic dimensions of transitioning to Zero Emission (ZE) trucks in the Inland Empire of Southern California. Through surveys and interviews with truck drivers and residents in Colton, Bloomington, and San Bernardino, the study highlights deep concerns about pollution, health impacts, and job stability.
  • The report underscores that low-income communities of color bear the brunt of trucking-related emissions, and that misinformation and lack of access to resources hinder truck drivers’ understanding of the transition. While challenges like infrastructure gaps and high costs persist, the report also identifies opportunities for a just transition.
• New UCLA Report on Independent Source Rules as Tools to Reduce Emissions 
  • Legal Planet, April 24, 2025
  • UCLA Law report focuses on how to use Indirect Source Rules to reduce pollution from mega facilities.
  • Read the report here – note – one of the authors of this report will be helping the CORE Hub Community Benefit Network learn about ISRs at the February meeting
  • Indirect Source Rules (ISRs) are powerful but largely overlooked tools that can significantly cut air pollution from trucks, equipment, marine vessels, and other mobile sources attached to large facilities like warehouses and ports. A UCLA Emmett Institute report explains that although California has 35 local air districts, only two, San Joaquin Valley and South Coast, have adopted ISRs, and both have seen major success in reducing harmful emissions without hurting economic activity. ISRs help local regulators address mobile‑source pollution even as federal standards face potential rollbacks, and they have proven legally sound in court. With growing interest from lawmakers in states like New York, New Jersey, and California, the report argues that ISRs could be rapidly expanded to protect public health, especially in frontline communities, and urges legislatures to clarify authority so these rules can be adopted more widely. 
• The Cheaper, Better Choice: Messaging renewable energy in a cost-of-living crisis: A renewable energy communications guide
  • Potential Energy Coalition
  • The guide summarizes research on how Americans think about renewable energy and offers tested language, framing strategies, and message templates that make renewable energy feel affordable, practical, and beneficial for everyday life.
  • The core idea is that people respond more strongly to economic and quality‑of‑life benefits than to abstract climate arguments.
  • Reporting: How politicians and businesses should talk about clean energy and climate change in a cost-of-living crisis

In the news:

• Oregon, California coastal communities weigh offshore wind tradeoffs
  • Oregon Public Broadcasting, January 25, 2026
  • Offshore wind development is advancing on the West Coast despite delays from the Trump administration, and coastal communities are exploring community benefit agreements (CBAs) to secure local economic gains from future floating wind farms. Researchers from Oregon State University and Schatz Energy Resource Center are studying how residents and local leaders view these agreements, especially since all five companies that won California’s 2022 offshore wind leases pledged millions toward CBAs. Early findings show that while California communities tend to be more supportive than those in Oregon and Washington, many small, rural towns feel overwhelmed and lack the capacity to negotiate effectively with large developers. Researchers are sharing preliminary results in community meetings, including a well‑attended session in Eureka, and plan to develop a toolkit to help communities navigate CBA negotiations once funding allows.
  • Reporting by Jefferson Public Radio: Offshore wind raises big questions for small West Coast coastal communities
• The Trump Administration exempts new nuclear reactors from environmental review
  • National Public Radio, February 2, 2026
  • The Trump Administration has created a new exemption allowing experimental nuclear reactors to bypass key requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); eliminating the need for detailed public environmental reviews and accident‑impact assessments as the Department of Energy weakened internal safety and environmental rules to speed reactor construction. The DOE argues the new designs are safer and warrant streamlined review, but critics warn the reactors are untested, the rule changes reduce protections for groundwater and ecosystems, and the public will have fewer opportunities to weigh in. The move comes as the Administration pushes to launch several advanced test reactors by July 4 to support a rapidly growing nuclear startup sector, prompting concerns that safety, security, and environmental oversight are being sacrificed for speed.
• THE FORGOTTEN DISASTER: King Salmon Was Smashed by King Tides at the Beginning of the Year. Why is No One Talking About It?
  • Lost Coast Outpost, January 16, 2025

• • King Salmon endured three consecutive days of severe tidal flooding when record‑breaking King Tides, heavy rain, and storm surge pushed Humboldt Bay far beyond its banks, sending seawater into streets, yards, and dozens of homes. Water rose so quickly on Jan. 3 that many residents had only minutes to lift belongings before up to a foot of seawater poured inside, ruining floors, appliances, vehicles, and personal items. Some longtime residents said they had never seen flooding reach this level, with water even coming up through floorboards in homes that had never previously flooded. While local agencies pumped water, checked on residents, and distributed cleanup supplies, no emergency declaration was issued, leaving many families navigating insurance claims and recovery on their own. Community groups, volunteers, and researchers stepped in to deliver food, assess damage, and connect residents with resources as the neighborhood began the long process of drying out and rebuilding.
  • King Salmon recovery continues as county and partners consider long-term plan
    • Eureka Times Standard, January 31, 2026
• Reporting on rulings that the Trump Administration’s order to halt construction of the Revolution Wind Project off the coast of Rhode Island, the Empire Wind Project off the coast of New York, and Vineyard Wind off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard were unlawful:
  • US judge lets Danish firm resume Rhode Island offshore wind project halted by Trump Administration
    • The Guardian, January 12, 2026
    • A federal judge has allowed construction to resume on the nearly completed $6.2 billion Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island, ruling that the Trump administration’s order to halt work was unlawful because the Interior Department failed to explain its claimed national security concerns. 
  • New York offshore wind project to resume construction after judge lifts Trump suspension
    • CNBC, January 15, 2026
    • A federal judge has temporarily lifted the Trump Administration’s suspension of the Empire Wind project, allowing developer Equinor to restart construction off the coast of New York. Empire Wind, expected to power more than 500,000 homes by 2027, now joins Revolution Wind in being cleared to resume work, while legal battles continue for the remaining projects, including the large Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind facility.
  • Judge Revives Wind Farm Halted Off Martha’s Vineyard
    • New York Times, January 27, 2026
    • A federal judge has allowed the nearly complete Vineyard Wind project off Martha’s Vineyard to resume construction, rejecting the Trump Administration’s order to halt work based on classified national‑security concerns the court found inadequately explained. The ruling marks the fourth legal setback for the Administration’s attempts to pause multiple East Coast offshore wind farms, and it enables Vineyard Wind, already 95% built and delivering some power, to continue toward full operation, where it is expected to serve more than 400,000 Massachusetts customers.
• COMMUNITY ENERGY INSIGHTS: Your Energy Bills Probably Skyrocket in the Winter. Let’s See What We Can Do About That
  • Lost Coast Outpost, January 29, 2026
  • “Community Energy Insights” is a new monthly column from the people at the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Humboldt County’s intergovernmental joint-powers authority on all things electrical. Look for it on LoCo the last Thursday of the month.
  • Winter electricity bills often rise in Humboldt County because homes use more energy for heating, lighting, and hot water during colder, darker months, even though rates themselves may be lower. The Redwood Coast Energy Authority explains that simple steps, like lowering the thermostat, sealing drafts, using space heaters sparingly, switching to LED bulbs, and washing clothes in cold water, can help reduce costs. As the region’s locally governed electricity provider, RCEA also offers bill‑discount programs, rebates, personalized account support, and free energy‑efficiency kits to help residents manage winter expenses and improve home efficiency
• European nations are jointly planninga large-scale offshore wind buildout
  • Canary Media, January 28, 2026
  • Ten European nations are collaborating to expand offshore wind in the North Sea, signing the Hamburg Declaration to jointly build 100 gigawatts of shared offshore wind capacity, part of a broader goal of 300 gigawatts by 2050. Backed by more than 100 companies pledging to cut costs and hire tens of thousands of workers, the pact reflects Europe’s push for energy security after the loss of Russian gas and the limits of nuclear and solar in the region. While political and regulatory hurdles remain, including tensions over electricity prices, grid connections, and deep‑water challenges for countries like Norway, the agreement positions European developers such as Ørsted, Equinor, RWE, and TotalEnergies to lead a major buildout. New transmission links like the upcoming Celtic Interconnector are expected to accelerate offshore wind growth, with leaders framing the effort as a strategic, economically driven move to strengthen Europe’s energy independence.
• Vineyard Wind report: Project has created more than 3,700 jobs
  • New Bedford Light, January 22, 2026
  • Over the past decade, the Vineyard Wind project has employed more than 3,700 people and paid over $380 million in wages and benefits while exceeding its local hiring goals, with more than 70% of union labor coming from southeastern Massachusetts. A new report shows the project created thousands of mostly construction‑phase jobs, union and nonunion, with many workers citing unprecedented job stability, the project fell short of its goals for hiring women and minority union workers. As construction nears completion, the project has driven an estimated $1.9 billion in total economic output through direct, indirect, and induced spending, even as a recent federal suspension order temporarily slowed activity. While the workforce is now shrinking as construction winds down, Vineyard Wind is expected to support 80–100 long‑term operations and maintenance jobs.
• World’s First 20 MW Wind Turbine Installed Offshore
  • Offshore Wind Biz, January 15, 2026
  • A 20 MW wind turbine was installed in the waters off southern Fujian, China, on January 13 as part of a research project. This is the first time a wind turbine with output at this scale was installed at sea, both in China and in the world.
• Arcata City Council Tackles Sea Level Rise at the Marsh, and Also Bumps Up the Number of Bicycle Ride-Share Stations
  • Lost Coast Outpost, January 22, 2026
  • The January 21st Arcata City Council meeting focused on long‑term plans to protect the city’s wastewater treatment facility (The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary) from sea‑level rise, with engineers outlining options ranging from raising and extending the levee to relocating the entire plant, costs spanning from about $20 million to more than $200 million, with a decision needed by 2030. The council also approved a $412,500 contract to expand the city’s bike‑share system with two new stations and additional e‑bikes, funded through federal grants, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Measure H. Last year’s bike‑share usage hit record levels, and councilmembers encouraged regional expansion. 
• EUREKA RESIDENTS: You Can Kill Five Minutes and Help Out a Local Kid Getting His Degree By Taking His Quick Survey on the City’s Bus System
  • Lost Coast Outpost, January 14, 2026
  • ‘Hi everyone. My name is Isaac Young, and I am a student at the University of California, Irvine. I’ve lived in Eureka all my life, and am conducting research regarding rural bus transit with Eureka as my focus city. In it, I’m determining the factors needed to improve the bus system. With my findings, I’ll create maps and a journal article detailing the proposed improvements. If you have the time, please fill out this 5-minute anonymous survey:’
    • https://uci.questionpro.com/EurekaTransitService

Please reach out with your thoughts and questions.

Thank you from the CORE Hub Team!