State of California moves to making offshore wind power a reality

The State of California has taken an important step toward making offshore wind power a reality in Pacific Ocean waters off the state’s coastline.

In a unanimous vote, the State Lands Commission decided to move the CADEMO project, forward into the environmental review process – a crucial regulatory step toward bringing the State’s first offshore wind project into operation.

The CADEMO project, which will construct four floating turbines with a total capacity of 60 MW, is being developed by Floventis Energy, a joint venture between Cierco and SBM Offshore.

“We are delighted by the outcome of today’s vote” said Mikael Jakobsson, Chairman of Cierco Group. “It shows that California is starting to take clear action to make floating offshore wind power a reality in the state. CADEMO will be a pioneer on the West Coast, showing that floating offshore wind is technologically ready, economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially beneficial.”

Severine Baudic, Managing Director for New Energies and Services of SBM Offshore, added: “The world’s energy investors are looking to California to open the doors to floating offshore wind, and today’s vote was a very favourable sign. 

“CADEMO can stimulate the creation of an important industrial supply chain locally, which would position California to serve the entire West Coast of North America in future years.”

CADEMO proposes to construct four floating turbines with a total capacity of 60 MW, enough power for roughly 22,000 homes. The next step in the State Lands Commission process is a full Environmental Impact Review. This review, looking in detail at the project impacts will now follow, providing detailed analysis and assessment to support State Lands Commission in reaching a final decision on the project.