The Port of Long Beach has set its sights on a new venture that could reshape the landscape of renewable energy infrastructure in the United States. The plan to construct Pier Wind, a “floating” pier dedicated to the assembly of offshore wind turbines, has taken a step forward this week as it embarks on its environmental review phase, according to a recent report by Urbanize Los Angeles.
The vision for Pier Wind entails the development of a 400-acre terminal area situated on newly created land made from dredged material. The terminal would be used for the assembly of turbine systems as high as 1,100 feet, rivaling the Eiffel Tower in size.
Central to the project’s design is a newly proposed wharf along the northern edge of the terminal, intended to facilitate the arrival of delivery vessels and enable the seamless transfer of floating foundations for the turbines. Complementing this infrastructure is a 30-acre transportation corridor built atop dredged material in order to create a four-lane vehicle access route to the complex.
The wind turbines in Long Beach would play a part in California’s commitment to meeting its goal of generating 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045, adds the report. Moreover, this initiative aligns with the federal government’s ambitious target of reducing the cost of offshore wind power by 70 percent by 2035, underscoring Pier Wind’s significance on a national scale.
The project hinges on securing approvals from local, state and federal agencies. Anticipated to be executed in two phases spanning nine years commencing in 2027, the initial phase could potentially conclude as early as 2031 with the full project set to be completed by 2035.
The State of California, overall, has had its eyes set on clean energy. The Registry recently reported that California had secured an impressive grant of up to $1.2 billion from the United States Department of Energy (DOE). This funding is earmarked for the advancement and expansion of clean energy projects, with a primary focus on cultivating green employment opportunities. The overarching aim is to propel California toward achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2045.
