by Carole Mintzer, Chair, Climate and Clean Energy Committee
When Golden State Wind cut a deal with the Trump administration last week, it was tied to a concerted attack on renewable energy backed by Big Oil. By ending their lease in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, Golden State will recover $120 million in lease fees after they invest an equal amount in US oil and gas, energy infrastructure, or liquefied natural gas projects in the Gulf Coast. Instead of developing a project that would generate 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, which could power 1.1 million homes, we’ll get more dirty, climate change-inducing fossil fuels. This is Trump’s “drill baby drill” motto in action. The Trump administration’s target on offshore wind directly contradicts the need for renewable energy to mitigate the climate crisis. It also runs counter to recent public polling on offshore wind.
In January 2025, June 2025 and March 2026, the Tarrance Group conducted polling for Turn Forward on people's opinions on offshore wind. The most recent poll was carried out in 13 coastal states and surveyed over 5600 registered voters, of whom 600 were in California.
Here are some highlights from the California respondents from the report of the March 2026 poll:
- 72% are very concerned about energy prices
- 87% approve of incorporating more renewable energy into the state’s energy mix
- 76% favor the construction of offshore wind in US waters, including
- 82% of Democrats,
- 71% of Independents, and
- 69% of Republicans
- 76% favor the construction of offshore wind off the California coast
- 56% said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports allowing the construction of offshore wind projects in US waters
- 77% favor auctioning more leases for offshore wind
- 66% say it is very important for the federal government to honor the existing permits and approvals for offshore wind.
While the federal administration is doing its best to stymie the development of offshore wind, California is moving forward with planning for ports to support offshore wind. The ports under consideration for San Luis Obispo County would support operations and maintenance (O&M) of offshore wind projects, NOT the staging and assembly of turbines, which would require a much larger and deeper port than the SLO coast can support. O&M facilities are much smaller, supporting the smaller vessels that take crew and supplies to service and repair the wind turbines.
A recently released report on the suitability of San Luis Obispo Bay to serve as an O&M port was presented to the Port San Luis Harbor Commission at a meeting attended by about 60 members of the public last week. The report describes modifications to the existing piers that would need to be made and estimated costs of doing so. It did not present a specific plan for modifying port facilities.
Fifteen members of the public urged the Harbor Commission to move forward with planning for an O&M port because they believe offshore wind will be an important tool to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Five people spoke against any further development, raising concerns about where a warehouse would go and how the port would affect the look of Port San Luis.
Now that the report is out, the Harbor Commission will again consider whether it should accept a $3 million grant from the California Energy Commission to support planning and research for the O&M facility and help lay the groundwork for long-term offshore wind development. Now is the time to invest in analysis of offshore wind infrastructure, so local leadership can make decisions based on up-to-date and specific data.
There is loud and well-organized opposition to offshore wind that is funded and/or influenced by the fossil fuel industry. They are trying to pull the plug on offshore wind. But to address climate change, we need to leave no tools behind. Responsibly-sited offshore wind is one of those tools.
Sierra Club supports the growth of renewable energy while recognizing the critical need to protect natural ecosystems and human communities from the impacts of development. Our team of local, state and national experts evaluates renewable energy projects when they are subject to the environmental review process. We consider each project individually, looking at its ability to displace fossil fuels, its impacts on natural ecosystems, and long-term planning that is equitable for all people and communities.
Sierra Club will monitor the progress of port and offshore wind development and consider taking a position when there is a proposed project subject to environmental review. While Big Oil may be rooting for the death of offshore wind, the patient is still alive and it’s too soon to pull the plug.