Port of Long Beach receives U$20 million for Pier Wind

As the largest recipient of the agency’s Offshore Wind Energy Waterfront Facility Improvement Program from state bond funding, the Port of Long Beach will match US$11 million to complete engineering, environmental, business planning, and community outreach requirements needed to begin construction on Pier Wind. The proposed US$4.7 billion facility aims to help California meet a goal of generating 25 GW of offshore wind energy by 2045 – enough to power 25 million homes statewide.

“Our Pier Wind project will ensure California’s offshore wind energy goals are achieved,” said Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero. “We thank the California Energy Commission for funding the Pier Wind project, which will enhance the nation’s energy independence and strengthen the electric grid to support electrification investments across the supply chain.”

“California’s offshore wind energy goals cannot be achieved without onshore development at port facilities like Pier Wind, which will create thousands of manufacturing jobs across the US,” added Long Beach Harbor Commission President, Frank Colonna. “We are grateful for this state funding to make offshore wind a part of California’s energy portfolio.”

The grant funding came from Proposition 4, the climate bond measure approved in 2024 by California voters which set aside US$475 million for port infrastructure projects connected to offshore wind development. The Port of Long Beach will seek additional Proposition 4 proceeds for Pier Wind as the state releases those funds.

Pier Wind would allow for the staging, storage and assembly of some of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, standing as tall as the Eiffel Tower. The fully assembled turbines would be towed by sea from the Port of Long Beach to wind lease areas 20 – 30 miles off the coast in Central and Northern California.

The proposed project is undergoing extensive environmental review by local, state and federal regulatory agencies as the Port of Long Beach gathers input from the community. Construction could start as soon as 2027, with the first 200 acres completed in 2031, and the final 200 acres coming online in 2035. A recent preliminary economic impact report found that Pier Wind could create more than 6000 jobs and generate US$8 billion in labour income, US$14.5 billion in economic output and US$1.3 billion in state and local taxes between now and 2045.

“The US$20 million award from the California Energy Commission is a commitment and investment in healthy, thriving communities and a sustainable future,” said State Senator, Lena Gonzalez. “With this funding, the Pier Wind project will break ground, creating jobs, boosting economic growth, and propelling progress on our state’s ambitious goals for offshore wind energy and emissions reductions.”

“Despite facing significant challenges in this year’s budget, we remained laser-focused on investing in our priorities, including offshore wind development,” commented Assemblyman, Josh Lowenthal. “The funding we secured will support critically important offshore wind projects in our district, lift up marginalised communities, and create new opportunities for underrepresented populations in the workforce, including women and previously incarcerated individuals, to build careers in engineering, construction, and maintenance of offshore wind construction sites and our farms.”

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