Op-ed by Client Weirick, Councilmember, Grover Beach, CA
July 24, 2024
Wildfires are no longer seasonal. We deal with them all the time. And they are increasingly bringing death and upheaval to communities throughout the state. Add drought, and torrential rains there is no doubt we are living inside the climate emergency. Our use of fossil fuels continues to fuel the flames of destruction. We need to take action and decarbonize the electric power sector to hold back the extreme weather.
It’s timely that renewable energy is now cheaper and more reliable than fossil fuels for power. The reality is we can transition our entire economy to run on 100 percent renewable energy with floating offshore wind turbines off our coast begin feeding the grid.
With consistent strong offshore wind that never stops, California can be powered day and night to meet our energy needs as it will augment solar and other renewables. It will reduce our reliance on fossil-fuel power plants until the day they are no longer needed.
The more we electrify our transportation, the more we will appreciate how offshore wind energy can power them. Along with the other clean energy sources we will be able to power our buildings, and raise the quality of life for all Californians as environmental justice takes root.
An equitable central procurement program would provide tangible opportunities for local Tribes, communities, and California workers. The offshore wind buildout will add thousands of good paying union jobs up and down the coast and local economies will flourish as more is spent in their communities. In addition to on site construction jobs it will support the greater economy because the consistent stream of workers will provide much needed dollars to the local community. The jobs can help raise property values and provide better schooling opportunities for the children that live there.
This is a once in a generation opportunity for us to capture never ending clean energy in large quantities that will spur significant economic development in our clean energy transition from dirty global warming fossil fuels.
The exciting thing about offshore wind is that it represents a massive, untapped resource just beyond our shores in deep federal waters. The turbines will barely be visible on their floating platforms.
In addition to jobs on construction sites. it will also support the greater economy because consistent stream of workers will provide much needed dollars to the local community. The jobs can help raise property values and provide better schooling opportunities for the children they live there.
With the passage of Assembly Bill 1373, lawmakers acknowledged California’s climate goals required new tools. They understood a central procurement mechanism for large-scale, capital-intensive resources like offshore wind is critical to success. We’ve done similar measures before with low emission vehicles and solar panels. Now, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) can ensure the success of AB 1373 as it puts a substantial central procurement plan into action.
To achieve a clean, net-zero electric system by 2045 timing is essential. We cannot afford to move at a turtle’s pace. This is a race to ensure stability of our electric needs, and to protect public health from the dangers posed by continuing to use fossil fuels. The level of central procurement for the offshore wind buildout that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) determines is critical for success. That’s why I urge them to act accordingly and not miss this opportunity to ensure the state meets its climate goals and that energy security becomes a reality.
Decisive, long-term planning now will protect the environment and ratepayers while spurring investment in California’s clean energy economy. The path we chart today for offshore wind will determine the tools it has to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, promote reliability, and decarbonize its grid. This is our future.