Governor Newsom signs bill to expedite Port of Long Beach’s Pier Wind project

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed a bill allowing the Port of Long Beach to streamline the design and construction of Pier Wind, a proposed 400-acre terminal to facilitate the assembly and deployment of floating offshore wind turbines.

Assembly Bill 2235, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, will reduce costs and accelerate the timeline to complete the proposed Pier Wind project, which would be the largest facility of its kind in the United States and would help California meet its goals for renewable energy sources.

“We now have the ability to plan and build Pier Wind in a way that is smarter, faster and more cost-effective, thanks to Gov. Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal guiding this critical legislation to approval,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “I would also like to thank our labor partners from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California for collaborating with us to ensure the future success of this important project. Pier Wind will help the state meet climate goals, create jobs and economic opportunities for local communities, and establish a new green energy industry along the West Coast.”

“Thank you to our state leadership for creating a pathway that will allow us to expedite the design and construction of Pier Wind, unlocking thousands of good paying jobs in California,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “The Port of Long Beach is the ideal location for this project, given our connections to robust transportation networks and our access to the state’s largest manufacturing base and construction and marine workforce.”

AB 2235 allows the Port to use alternative construction delivery methods to design and build Pier Wind. In addition to creating new green energy jobs in Southern California, Pier Wind would enable other sectors of the supply chain to create jobs supporting the manufacturing, assembly, operations and maintenance of offshore wind projects on the West Coast. The Port of Long Beach sponsored the bill, which was approved in August by the state Senate and Assembly.

“Offshore wind is a key component of California’s clean energy future,” Assemblymember Lowenthal said. “The governor’s signature on AB 2235 brings our state one step closer to achieving clean, sustainable energy delivery in our beautiful state. The Pier Wind project is an important extension of the smart growth efforts at our ports and will dramatically increase good paying jobs, improve air quality, and mitigate negative impacts to the surrounding Long Beach communities. Additionally, AB 2235 will contribute to economic growth in California and keep us on the right track to achieve our environmental goals. I look forward to continuing to partner with the governor, my colleagues, and all of the stakeholders that are working to build California’s offshore wind infrastructure.”

“The men and women of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union are pleased this legislation has been signed into law by the governor,” said Gary Herrera, president of ILWU Local 13. “Throughout our 90-year history of working on these docks, we have loaded and unloaded all manner of cargo from ships and barges and are excited to bring that expertise to bear on this offshore wind project at Pier Wind in the Port of Long Beach.”

“The Pier Wind project presents an exciting opportunity for California to realize its potential as a leader in the U.S. offshore wind market,” said Chris Hannan, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. “The signing of AB 2235 will allow alternative delivery methods for the efficient construction of needed port infrastructure leading to an untapped clean energy source while creating thousands of high-quality construction jobs for Southern Californians thanks to a project labor agreement with the Port of Long Beach. We look forward to seeing the project through the construction process and a continued partnership with the Port.”

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 to 30 miles off the coast in Central and Northern California to help the state and federal government meet their renewable energy goals.

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. If approved, construction of the $4.7 billion project could start as soon as 2027, with the first 200 acres completed in 2031, and the final 200 acres coming online in 2035.