California reaffirms 25GW floating offshore wind target

• 20 May 2026
• Government, Windfarms
• Nick Hood

State officials and industry leaders have reaffirmed plans to develop 25GW of offshore wind capacity by 2045 during the 2026 Pacific Offshore Wind Summit in Long Beach.

The summit, hosted by Offshore Wind California (OWC), highlighted ongoing efforts to advance floating offshore wind development despite federal opposition and wider uncertainty across the US offshore wind sector.

California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild said the state would continue supporting offshore wind investment, including funding for ports and related infrastructure approved under Proposition 4.

An initial $228 million has already been allocated from the wider $475 million infrastructure package aimed at preparing ports for floating offshore wind deployment. Additional funding has also been awarded to facilities at Humboldt, Long Beach, Oakland, Richmond and San Luis.

Offshore wind lease areas off Morro Bay and Humboldt were secured during the 2022 federal lease sale, which attracted bids totalling approximately $757 million for projects expected to support an initial 7GW to 10GW of capacity.

Industry representatives said further progress will depend on continued investment in ports, transmission infrastructure, permitting frameworks and supply-chain development as the US West Coast positions itself as a future hub for floating offshore wind technology.