California seeks target of 20GW offshore wind by 2045, no new fossil fuels

California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing to accelerate the climate goals of his state, setting ambitious new targets for clean buildings, carbon removal, clean fuels in transportation, and for renewable energy, including a call for 20GW of offshore wind by 2045.

California has targeted reducing emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality no later than 2045.

However, Governor Newsom last week sent a letter to the Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) calling for the state to ensure that the 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan provides a clear path to achieving both the 2030 and 2045 climate goals.

The governor also requested that the final plan incorporate new efforts to advance offshore wind, clean fuels, climate-friendly homes, carbon removal, and addressing methane leaks.

“California communities experience the devastating impacts of climate change every day,” said Governor Newsom. “We need to supercharge our efforts to significantly reduce harmful carbon pollution.

“The state’s draft carbon neutrality road map doesn’t go far enough or fast enough. That’s why I’m pushing state agencies to adopt more aggressive actions, from offshore wind to climate-friendly homes, and to make sure we never build another fossil fuel power plant in California again.”

The wide-ranging call for action includes several big news items, including the call for the establishment of a California Energy Commission planning goal of at least 20GW of offshore wind in 2045.

Located on the western coast of the United States, California has not given offshore wind the same level of attention as has been seen on the east coast. However, in May, the Biden Administration announced the start of plans to open two offshore wind lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore California.

The proposed leasing sale is part of a larger goal of the current administration to deploy 30GW of offshore wind around the country by 2030.

Governor Newsom’s call for accelerated offshore wind roll-out also builds on a recent plan undertaken by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to deploy another 25.5GW of renewable energy capacity and 15GW of new storage and demand response resources by 2032 – a plan which would include the development of an unspecified amount of offshore wind.

In addition to a call to solidify the acceleration of offshore wind development, Governor Newsom also requested CARB include in its 2022 Scoping Plan a goal of creating 3 million climate-ready and climate-friendly homes by 2030 and 7 million by 2035.

This would also be supplemented by 6 million heat pumps by 2030 and directing 50% of investments to low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The California Air Resources Board is set to meet in the coming months to consider adopting a final draft of the 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan, as well as discuss the governor’s call to partner with the California Legislature to make carbon neutrality a state law.