How we can do offshore wind right in California

Workshop to Present Next Steps for Considering Offshore Wind Energy off the California Coast

On June 21, the California Energy Commission held a Workshop to Present Next Steps for Considering Offshore Wind Energy off the California Coast

Dan Jacobson, Senior Advisor for Environmental California Research and Policy Center participated in the workshop and testified, sharing recommendations from the recent Environment California Research and Policy Center report, Offshore Wind for America.

“Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to testify today.

“Offshore wind can help repower the U.S. with clean energy — but taking advantage of the opportunity will require support from policymakers and regulatory bodies. To help the industry grow, and to hasten the transition to renewable energy, governments and regulatory agencies at all levels should:

  • Provide market certainty for offshore wind, as Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Virginia have done by setting enforceable targets for offshore wind deployment.

  • Support domestic supply chain development.

  • Set standards to ensure the environmental integrity of offshore wind projects and to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to marine ecosystems and wildlife.

  • Accelerate the offshore wind development process while ensuring transparency and environmental responsibility.

  • Increase and extend tax credits for offshore wind power.

  • Plan for regional offshore wind development, including transmission infrastructure.

  • Support research and development of new offshore wind technologies.

“Please see our recent report, Offshore Wind for America for more about the potential of offshore wind and policy recommendations to help us tap into this plentiful clean energy resource.”

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Authors

Dan Jacobson

Senior Advisor, Environment California

Dan provides campaign strategy and policy guidance for Environment California's program and organizational plans. Prior to his current role, he worked as the state director of Environment California and the organizing director of Florida PIRG, among other roles. The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) named Dan a Clean Power Champion in 2019, and Capitol Weekly named him one of the “Top 100 Lobbyists” in California in 2008. Dan's areas of expertise include renewable energy, electric vehicles and ocean pollution, and he has successfully advocated for the passage of dozens of bills into law, including measures to ban toxic chemicals, bring 1 million solar roofs to California, and ban single-use plastic grocery bags. He ran the campaign for SB 100, California’s law setting a goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2045.