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GFO-24-701 – Offshore Wind Energy Waterfront Facility Improvement Program

Grantor:

CA Energy Commission

Departmental Grant ID:

GFO-24-701

Portal ID:

80870

Status:

Active

Opportunity Type:

• Grant

Last Updated:

October 2, 2024, 10:47 am

Categories:

• Energy

Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund projects that will plan for offshore wind energy infrastructure improvements that advance the capabilities of California waterfront facilities to support the development and operation of floating offshore wind projects. This solicitation implements provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 209 (The Energy and Climate Change budget bill, Chapter 251, Section 12, Chapter 7.6, Article 6, enacted in September 2022).

Description:

AB 209 added Public Resources Code (PRC) sections 25660 – 25666, known as the Clean Energy Programs, including PRC section 25666 which creates the “Program to Support Offshore Wind Infrastructure Improvements.” The general provisions of the Clean Energy Programs in PRC sections 25660 and 25661 apply to PRC section 25666. The Budget Act of 2022, as amended by Assembly Bill 179 (2022), appropriates $45,000,000 to the CEC to administer ($2,250,000) and provide incentives ($42,750,000) to support offshore wind infrastructure improvements and requires that the CEC expend or encumber the funds by June 30, 2025, and make available for liquidation until June 30, 2029.

Offshore wind energy developed in federal ocean waters off California’s coast is poised to play an important role in diversifying the state’s portfolio of clean and renewable energy resources as it complements the generation attributes of other clean energy resources.

The AB 525 Strategic Plan identifies potential impacts of developing floating offshore wind as well as strategies to address those impacts. The AB 525 Strategic Plan includes recommendations for a range of topic areas, including addressing impacts to underserved communities:

 

·       The study, development, and operation of offshore wind related projects should include early, regular, and meaningful community outreach and engagement with underserved communities, nongovernmental organizations, local governments, state entities, and other potentially impacted groups.

·       Offshore wind development and operation should avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to underserved communities, including those in and around ports, and support actions to protect already overburdened communities, such as air and water pollution burdens and considerations for mitigations.

 

As authorized by PRC section 25666, the CEC can fund offshore wind infrastructure improvements at waterfront facilities within three categories of investment types:

 

·       Category I activities support developing individual or regional retrofit concepts and investment plans.

·       Category II activities support final design, engineering, environmental studies and review, and construction of retrofits.

·       Category III activities include cost share funding to an eligible applicant that receives a federal award for purposes consistent with Category I or Category II activities.

 

 

 

 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

• Business
• Individual
• Nonprofit
• Other Legal Entity
• Public Agency
• Tribal Government

This solicitation is open to California port authorities, port operators, port commissions, and their respective authorized agents, other California waterfront facilities, and other entities that demonstrate a commitment to California offshore wind energy investments and are partnered with a California waterfront facility.

Eligible Geographies:

Applicants must provide to the CEC proof of having site control by submitting adequate documentation of site control and possession. Documentation of site control and possession may include, but is not limited to, an executed lease for the land on which the project will take place.

 

Matching Funding Requirement:

Additional points will be awarded to applications that include cash match and in-kind match. Additional points will be awarded based on the percentage of total match (cash + in-kind) to the amount of CEC funds requested as included on the Proposal Budget.