CORE Hub November 2025 Newsletter

Good Afternoon Partners, 

Here is your newsletter on offshore wind and related interests. 

In Memoriam:

• Jesse Marquez, tireless defender of L.A. port communities, dies at 74
  • Los Angeles Times, November 13, 2025
  • “Environmental activist Jesse Marquez, who organized in the harbor communities for decades, died at 74. He and allies fought tirelessly to curb diesel emissions in Wilmington, which since 2005 have fallen 90%. When Jesse Marquez walked into the Los Angeles harbor commission hearing room in 2013, he didn’t bring a consultant or a slideshow. He brought death certificates.Each sheet of paper, he told the commissioners, bore the name of a Wilmington resident killed by respiratory illness. Wedged between two of the country’s busiest ports, the neighborhood is dotted with oil refineries, chemical plants, railyards and freeways. It’s one of several portside communities known by some as a “diesel death zone,” where residents are more likely to die from cancer than just about anywhere else in the L.A. Basin. For decades, Marquez refused to let anyone forget it. He knocked on doors, installed air monitors, counted oil wells, built coalitions, staged demonstrations, fought legal battles and affected policy. He dove deep into impenetrable environmental impact documents.”
  • We are humbled and inspired by Jesse Marquez’s care and advocacy for his community. May our work honor his legacy. We are thinking of our friends who are part of THE Impact Project carrying on his work and advocating for port side communities down south. 

Upcoming opportunities for leadership and learning:

• Webinar: Impacts of Offshore Wind on Reliability and Affordability
  • Charles River Associates
  • December 4, 2025, 11:00-12:00pm PST
  • White paper: The contribution of offshore wind to grid reliability & resource adequacy
    • November 6, 2025
    • In this white paper, the authors assess the potential role of offshore wind in addressing emerging reliability challenges under these conditions. The analysis finds that, from a resource adequacy perspective, OSW can provide meaningful capacity value and complementary performance to other generation sources, particularly during winter and nighttime stress periods near coastal load centers. However, the authors also note that OSW faces development challenges, including cost pressures, supply-chain constraints, permitting uncertainty, and declining effective load carrying capability values as more capacity is added to the system.
• Offshore Wind Workforce Development Report to be Heard at 12/9 Board of Supervisors Meeting
  • The Xodus report findings will be presented at the December 9th Board of Supervisors meeting. While federal offshore wind is in a slow down period the county continues to move its planning and preparation forward as local and state infrastructure investments continue. 
  • The Xodus report is a workforce and supply chain assessment commissioned by Humboldt County’s Economic Development Department focused on preparing the region for offshore wind development. It aims to identify local and regional capabilities, gaps, and opportunities tied to the emerging offshore wind industry. The report is meant to inform strategic planning to guide investments, policy decisions, and community engagement. 
• The Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan will come before the Board of Supervisors at their December 16th meeting
  • The Board of Supervisors meets on Tuesdays at 9:00 am in the Board of Supervisors Chamber at the Humboldt County Courthouse, located at 825 Fifth Street in Eureka, California.
  • This is an opportunity to advocate for ambitious climate action in Humboldt County. To show your support for a goal of 50% reduction please consider showing up and making a comment at the BOS meeting. 
  • The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Humboldt County by addressing emissions from vehicle travel, electricity use, natural gas consumption and other local sources. It outlines measures related to carbon-free energy, building energy use, transportation, waste, water/wastewater and carbon sequestration.
  • Humboldt’s Carbon-Cutting Goals Debated as Plan Gets Commission Approval
    • Redheaded Blackbelt, October 20, 2025
  • Humboldt County’s Planning Commission is recommending approval of an ambitious Regional Climate Action Plan but a greenhouse gas emission threshold came under intense debate and didn’t gain consensus.The plan covers the entire county and maps a path to carbon neutrality by 2045 (a requirement for meeting the state’s 2045 goal). It targets various transportation and development activities for reducing emissions and has 12 strategies for doing it, including the “cornerstone” measure of creating a “regional climate coalition” and  “decarbonization” of existing and new construction.

Recent Events and updates: 

• State of the Coast 2025
  • State of the Coast is Oregon’s annual conference on marine science, policy issues, education, and local issues hosted by Oregon Seagrant. State of the Coast 2025 was held in Coos Bay November 14-15. It included a mix of expert panels, student research exhibits, hands on activities, and networking.
    • Oregon Seagrant partnered with California Seagrant to kick off the event with a panel titled “Port Development in Practice: Perspectives from Humboldt Bay.” Panelists included Rob Holmlund from the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, Heidi Moore-Guynup from Blue Lake Rancheria, Sharon Kramer, a local aquatic ecologist, and Ken Bates of the California Fisherman’s Resiliency Association.
    • Researchers from Oregon State University presented their findings on Community Benefits Agreements connected to offshore wind development. 
    • Jeff Burright of the OR Department of Land, Conservation, and Development presented about the Oregon Offshore Wind Roadmap process. DLCD has produced a second draft of the document that will be open to public review at the beginning of 2026 and presented to legislature mid year. 
• The West Coast Offshore Wind Hub, a network of environmental justice, labor, and environmental organizations traveled to Humboldt last week to learn about proposed offshore wind development in the region. They met with Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Vineyard Wind, Blue Lake Rancheria, The Humboldt Bay Harbor District, The Peninsula Community Collaborative and others. The group learned about opportunities and challenges specific to the redwood region. This trip was part of an effort to grow grassroots relationships between organizations working on community engagement around offshore wind development and a just transition on the west coast. Some local reporting about the trip below.
  • Offshore wind advocates say there’s now time to ‘do it right’
    • Times Standard, November 7, 2025
  • ‘The Gift of Time’: Offshore Wind Advocates See Trump Administration’s Pushback Against the Industry as a Possible Opportunity
    • Lost Coast Outpost, November 5, 2025

State and Federal Updates:

• California Energy Commission AB 3 Offshore Wind Seaport Readiness Plan Workshops and Opportunities for Comment. The California Energy Commission held two remote workshops November 13th and 14th to inform the CEC’s requirements to develop a second phase plan for seaport readiness for offshore wind development, per Assembly Bill (AB) 3 (Zbur, Chapter 314, Statutes of 2023). AB 3 requires the CEC to prepare and submit two reports to the Governor and Legislature – the first on seaport readiness, and a second on supply chain and workforce feasibility of achieving specified in-state assembly and manufacturing targets. These workshops were focused on the first report, due December 2026.
  • Presentations and recording from Day 1
  • Presentations and recording from Day 2
  • The workshops featured panels and presentations on key topic areas, including seaport readiness, maritime co-use, economic and workforce opportunities, tribal benefits, community benefits, incorporating equity and environmental justice in seaport planning,  and funding and financing strategies. The workshops also included discussions of considerations for minimizing impacts and incorporating environmental, equity, environmental justice, and California Native American tribes’ considerations in seaport readiness.
  • Some key takeaways and recommendations; public comments urged the state to accelerate upgrades to key ports like the Humboldt Bay and the Port of Long Beach, labor representatives highlighted the need for inclusive workforce training programs, aquaculture representative highlighted the importance of bay health and need for more robust analysis on impacts and protections for their operations, and participants stressed the importance of effective community engagement for successful port projects. 
  • There were several panelists from Humboldt County including Colleen Clifford from the Peninsula Community Collaborative, Heidi Moore-Guynup from Blue Lake Rancheria, Kerry Venegas from Changing Tides Family Services, and Lonyx Landry of Cal Poly Humboldt. 
  • The public comment period to submit comments to CEC docket log for 25-AB-03 is open until December 19th at 5:00 pm.
• California Energy Commission funding awards and project details for marine science projects for advancing offshore wind infrastructure
  • Approved at November 12 CEC business meeting
  • Funded projects will focus on detecting and mitigating marine entanglement, environmental monitoring, and open-source designs for high voltage direct current (HVDC) marine substations 

Community Benefit Frameworks for Transmission

• Beyond the Wires: Community Benefits from Transmission Projects
  • Clean Air Task Force, November 10, 2025
  • The US needs to build more electric transmission lines at an unprecedented pace to connect and deliver energy. Historically developers relied on an approach that sidelined communities, fueled opposition and caused costly delays. A new report from the Environmental Defense Fund and Clean Air Task Force shows that approach no longer works. By presenting five case studies covering six successfully constructed transmission lines in California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, the report highlights a clear trend: the most successful projects treat communities as partners, not obstacles. Innovative frameworks covered include Tribal infrastructure co-ownership, profit reinvestment, conservation and mitigation measures, and coordinated infrastructure development serving long-standing community needs.
  • Sunrise Powerlink & Sycamore-Peñasquitos Transmission Projects
• Factsheet: Bill discounts for transmission network infrastructure
  • UK Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, September 19, 2025
  • This is a UK government factsheet explaining a proposed Bill Discount Scheme for households near new electricity transmission infrastructure, as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a UK government initiative introduced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The bill is expected to go to the House of Commons for a final vote before the end of the year. 
• Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure: working paper
  • UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, May 21, 2025
  • This paper outlines why community benefits and shared ownership matter for renewable energy infrastructure. It identifies challenges and explores mechanisms to make them more consistent, impactful, and scalable. 
• Report: The PACE of Trust: A Framework by Community Voices for Advancing Transmission
  • Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, January 2025
  • The U.S. must expand and modernize its electric transmission grid to deliver reliable, affordable, and renewable energy. Community trust is essential to accelerate this development, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) commissioned DNV (a global independent assurance and risk management company) to convene a Transmission Roundtable. Through surveys, discovery sessions, and collaborative meetings, the Roundtable developed a set of best practices for community engagement, culminating in the PACE framework—Participation, Accountability, Communication, and Economic benefits. This framework emphasizes early and inclusive engagement, transparent governance, accessible communication, and equitable benefit-sharing to ensure that transmission projects move forward efficiently and with broad community support.
• Community Powered Progress: A Pathway to Greater Community Participation in Transmission Infrastructure Projects
  • Northeast Grid Planning Forum, August 2025
  • High-voltage transmission projects are essential for delivering renewable and reliable power. These large-scale projects affect many communities, each with unique needs and expectations, making negotiations complex. To address this, the Northeast Grid Planning Forum convened a working group of experts in law, environmental justice, Indigenous relations, and infrastructure to evaluate how benefits have been negotiated in past transmission projects. They studied four models: ownership participation, direct ratepayer benefits, community benefit funds, and in-kind donations. Key findings highlight that community ownership offers the most influence and long-term value, though it’s challenging to implement; power dynamics shift throughout project development; and a continuum of benefit options can help communities align strategies with their capacities and goals.

Resources, Information and Academic Articles:

• Lifecycle analysis of marine renewable energy infrastructures: Sustainable futures
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, December 2025
  • Marine renewable energy (MRE) infrastructures offer significant potential to address global energy needs and mitigate climate change, yet they currently contribute only a small portion of electricity production. While MRE infrastructures present opportunities for sustainable development, they face interdisciplinary challenges, including high costs, technological barriers, environmental impacts, and governance issues. This review focuses on lifecycle assessments of MRE infrastructures, aiming to reduce their ecological footprint and inform decision-makers. Key challenges include the need for advanced materials, improved resource assessments, and stronger regulatory frameworks.
• The Contribution of Offshore Wind to Grid Reliability and Resource Adequacy
  • Turn Forward, November 6, 2025
  • A new independent analysis examines how the United States can meet rapidly growing electricity demand while maintaining reliability and affordability. The study finds that demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electrification is rising faster than new power supply can be built, creating mounting risks for reliability, especially during winter mornings and evenings when traditional generation and fuel systems are most constrained. The authors conclude that meeting this challenge will require a diverse mix of resources, from natural gas and storage to renewables that can perform when the grid is under stress.
  • The report highlights offshore wind as one of the few large-scale resources that can deliver dependable, fuel-free power close to major coastal demand centers. CRA finds that offshore wind earns among the highest reliability ratings of any renewable resource and provides steady output during critical winter and nighttime hours. The findings underscore that America’s reliability challenge isn’t about choosing one energy source over another, but about building everything that works to keep the grid strong, affordable, and ready for the nation’s next wave of economic growth.
• Setting the Record Straight About Offshore Wind and Whales
  • NRDC blog, October 10, 2025
  • Federal agencies and independent scientists have found no causal link between offshore wind development and whale deaths. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Fisheries, the agency responsible for marine mammal conservation and management, explains in its FAQ on offshore wind and whales: “There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.”
• Fact vs. Fiction: The Truth Behind the Turbines
  • Oceantic Network, August 19, 2025
  • This tool from Oceantic tackles widespread misinformation surrounding offshore wind power and presents evidence-based counterpoints. 
• Oceantic Myth vs Fact Campaign
  • Dropbox folder from Oceantic with resources to address widespread myths surrounding offshore wind projects. 
  • This is an industry-produced educational resource to combat misinformation. 

In the news:

• The Future of Clean Energy has Arrived- Just not in the U.S.
  • New York Times, The Daily Podcast, November 18, 2025
  • The U.N. annual conference on climate change is taking place without US participation for the first time in 30 years. China is the world’s leading supplier of green energy technology, this podcast explores the future of energy and the rivalry between the two superpowers. 
• NPR interviews Humboldt Bay Harbor District’s Chris Mikkelsen
  • NPR, November 18, 2025
  • “Back in Eureka, Mikkelsen walks along a creaky dock, an abandoned pulp mill looming behind us. He says he doesn’t understand why the Trump administration would cancel the grants for the terminal supporting the wind project. He says this community has been suffering since 2008 when the pulp mill closed. Our administration that was recently elected, not only at the presidential level but even some of our Congress and senators, really ran on a platform that we’re going to build back America, that we’re going to create jobs in rural America – good, skilled, trained, you know, high-paying jobs. And there’s no better place. You’re looking around, you’re seeing the remnants of what once was.”
• Democrats’ New Affordability Message Is Complicating Climate Policy
  • Heatmap, November 18, 2025
  • The transition to clean energy will be expensive today, even if it’ll be cheaper in the long run.
• How an Electricity Rate Freeze Could Actually Work
  • Heatmap, November 17, 2025
  • New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill’s promise to freeze electricity rates is feasible but complex, requiring cooperation from utilities and creative financial strategies. The article explores how Sherrill might fulfill her campaign pledge to halt rising electricity rates amid public frustration over high bills. Experts suggest that utilities could voluntarily offer rate concessions by deferring costs, extending asset lifespans, or accelerating amortization to deliver short-term savings. However, these moves could be cash-flow negative and may lead to higher costs later. Utilities are also expected to negotiate for policy changes, such as permission to build generation or invest in energy storage. Ultimately, Sherrill’s success will depend on balancing affordability, reliability, and long-term energy planning.
• Power outages getting longer as extreme weather takes larger toll, report says
  • Utility Dive, November 17, 2025
  • A recent study reveals that customer satisfaction with electric utilities has dropped to its lowest level in five years, largely due to a rise in power outages caused by extreme weather events. These outages are becoming more frequent and longer, especially in the South and Midwest, straining utility performance and customer trust. While utilities are investing in grid modernization, progress is uneven and often hampered by regulatory and financial challenges. The report urges utilities to improve transparency and community engagement to address growing concerns and better prepare for climate-driven disruptions.
• China Deploys Next Generation Floating Wind Turbine With Significantly Greater Generation Capacity
  • Scientific American, November 11, 2025

• The world’s largest wind turbine, currently being tested off the coast of China, has blades that are more than twice as long as a Boeing 777’s wingspan. It can generate 26 megawatts (MW) of energy, more than double the global average for individual turbines. Another offshore wind turbine that is twice as powerful has been announced by Ming Yang Smart Energy, a company based in southern China. With a capacity of 50 MW, this new structure is designed to float on the ocean’s surface and can withstand typhoons, according to the company, which plans to start making the turbine later this year and to deploy it next year.
• Sen. Mike McGuire Launches Campaign for Congress in California’s New First District Currently Held by Representative Doug LaMalfa
  • Lost Coast Outpost, November 13, 2025
  • Senator McGuire announced that he will be running for District 1, a congressional seat currently held by Doug LaMalfa who has served since 2013. The redrawn region for District 1 includes Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Butte, Tehama, Glenn, and Lake Counties, along with portions of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. Senator McGuire has a history of advancing climate resilience efforts, which would be a change from Congressman LaMalfa’s track record for the District.
• A new battery-backed strategy is helping data centers get online faster by easing grid constraints—potentially reshaping how AI infrastructure is built
  • Canary Media, October 24, 2025
  • Aligned Data Centers is accelerating the deployment of a new data center in the Pacific Northwest by using a 31-megawatt battery system to reduce strain on the local electric grid. This approach, developed in partnership with Calibrant Energy and the local utility, allows the facility to come online years earlier than if it waited for traditional grid upgrades. The battery, which will be utility-owned but funded and hosted by Aligned, supports the data center’s energy needs and provides grid services like frequency regulation. This model shows how energy storage can help overcome grid constraints, enabling faster, more sustainable growth of power-hungry infrastructure like AI data centers.

Please reach out with any thoughts or questions, thank you from the CORE Hub team!