Why It Matters
California is moving forward with critical infrastructure for offshore wind power generation even as the Trump administration pays energy companies to abandon federal wind leases. The Port of Long Beach project represents a major state-level investment in renewable energy infrastructure independent of shifting federal policy.
What Happened
The Port of Long Beach is advancing the Pier Wind project, a 400-acre terminal designed for the assembly and deployment of large offshore wind turbines. The facility would support California’s goal of generating 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045. The turbines assembled at the port would be towed to federal wind lease areas approximately 20 miles off Morro and Humboldt bays.
The project will be built through a dredge-and-fill operation in the harbor. Port officials say the infrastructure has a long lead time and they are focusing on elements within state jurisdiction while federal policy remains uncertain. The work is scheduled for completion within a decade.
The development comes as the Trump administration has taken more than two dozen actions against offshore wind power since January 2025. Federal agencies canceled half a billion dollars in funding for port preparations in Humboldt Harbor. The White House also negotiated deals with energy companies holding offshore wind leases in federal waters, paying them nearly $2 billion to abandon wind projects and invest in oil and gas instead.
By The Numbers
The Pier Wind project carries a price tag of $4.7 billion. California aims to generate 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045. The state’s offshore wind plan envisions approximately 1,000 turbines in federal waters. The Trump administration has paid nearly $2 billion to wind lease holders to walk away from offshore projects. In the United Kingdom, offshore wind now accounts for nearly one-fifth of electricity generation.
Zoom Out
The Port of Long Beach is one of only two locations in California prepared for offshore wind turbine assembly work. The other is Humboldt Harbor near Eureka, which lost federal funding under the current administration. California’s approach represents a state-led infrastructure push that diverges from federal energy policy. Offshore wind has expanded rapidly in Europe and Asia, but U.S. development has faced political and regulatory challenges.
Golden State Wind, which held one of five California offshore wind leases, accepted a federal payment to abandon its project. The California Energy Commission is investigating that deal and has issued a subpoena seeking details about the payout.
What’s Next
Port officials say they will continue work on infrastructure within state control while federal wind lease areas remain in limbo. The strategy is to maintain readiness for offshore wind development should federal policy shift after the current administration. Industry representatives and state regulators met recently at the Pacific Offshore Wind Summit in Long Beach to discuss the sector’s future. Financing and investor confidence remain key questions as federal actions create uncertainty around the long-term viability of U.S. offshore wind projects.