Pacific Offshore
Wind Summit
2025
Join industry leaders, federal and state officials, and key stakeholders in shaping the future of offshore wind on the West Coast.
PRELIMINARY SUMMIT AGENDA 2025
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Registration & Check-In
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Opening Reception
Join us on the Convention Center's Outdoor Terrace for the Pacific Offshore Wind Summit 2025 Welcome Reception to kickstart your Summit experience with networking opportunities galore. Connect with industry pioneers, policymakers, and experts in an informal setting while enjoying refreshments and forging valuable connections that will enhance your Summit journey.
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Registration & Check-In
8:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Welcome & Introductions
8:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Staying the Course - California Moving Forward With its Plans to Make Offshore Wind a Key Part of its 100% Clean-Electricity Future
Key California agency leader sets the stage for the offshore wind opportunity and state agency activities in California. With all the changes in the past months, California remains committed and on course to make offshore wind a key part of its clean-power portfolio. Following the roadmap of the AB 525 Strategic Plan and the approval of Proposition 4, the Golden State is moving ahead on the essential next steps to achieve its goal of a nation-leading 25 GW of floating offshore wind by 2045.
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM
The Golden State is Going Big - Making California a Global Leader for Floating Offshore Wind
8:40 AM - 8:55 AM
Building the Future at Pier Wind - Laying a Foundation for California's Floating Offshore Wind Plans at the Port of Long Beach
8:55 AM - 9:40 AM
Networking Break
9:40 AM - 10:30 AM
Five Developers from California's Initial Offshore Wind Lease Sale
The five developers of the Dec. 2022 California offshore wind auction will discuss progress and prospects for their plans, meeting new challenges, and key next steps necessary to deploy California offshore wind at scale. Top leaders for these developers will examine efforts and outreach to coordinate with government agencies, ocean users, coastal communities, and Tribes. Panelists will discuss ways to address both opportunities and obstacles to deploying floating offshore wind in the California and other global markets.
10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Strengthening Progress & Setting the Stage for Offshore Wind in the California State Assembly
10:40 AM - 11:30 AM
Advancing Offshore Wind in the California Legislature
How will approval of the final AB 525 Strategic Plan, Proposition 4, and other key legislative measures advance the timeline for California offshore wind development?
What additional State legislative changes are needed - given the new federal policy environment - to ensure market certainty and a robust offshore wind industry in California? This panel discussion will focus on perspectives from the State Senate and Assembly members on further steps needed to keep California on track in building a sustainable industry and meeting the AB 525 planning goals.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Tribal Nation Perspectives, Partnerships, and Co-Management Structures, Related to Offshore Wind Development
Panel with Native American Tribal Nation leadership regarding offshore wind and associated infrastructure in California. Discussion will include lessons learned, activities to date, structures for improved co-management and co-stewardship of cultural, coastal, and ocean resources, and policy, concerns, and opportunities for this new green industrial development.
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Going Big on California Offshore Wind - Prospects for State & Federal Engagement & Path for Continued Progress
Panel discussion to review prospects for engagement among state and federal agencies in light of the final AB 525 Strategic Plan, the policy focus of the new federal administration, and what can be achieved in the next four years to continue building California's offshore wind industry. The panel will focus on how government agencies can work with industry to ensure timely permitting, siting, transmission development and interconnection, and effective community engagement.
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Roadmap for Timely, Efficient Permitting for California Offshore Wind
There is a complex state and federal permitting regime for offshore wind development. This panel will provide a 2025 update on strategies to align permitting processes and timelines, and explore what can be done at the state level to mitigate impacts and facilitate deployment and interconnection of offshore wind facilities.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Networking Break
3:30 PM - 3:40 PM
Just Energy Transition
3:40 PM - 4:40 PM
Coexisting with Ocean Users - Monitoring & Mitigating Wildlife & Fisheries Impacts
The sea space where the first five California offshore wind lease areas are located is biodiverse and supports an ecosystem of cetaceans, marine mammals, birds, fish, and other species. There is a need for responsible offshore wind development to mitigate impacts and coexist with ocean users, coastal communities, and the new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This panel will discuss scientific progress and funding for monitoring guidance and mitigation measures - including compensatory fisheries mitigation proposals - needed to protect the marine environment both in the siting process and once projects become operational.
Moderator:
Amber Hewett, Senior Director of Offshore Wind Energy, National Wildlife Federation
Panelists:
- Grace Chang, Senior Science Advisor, Technical Director - Marine Sciences and Engineering, Integral Consulting
- Garry George, Senior Director, Climate Strategy, National Audubon Society
- Kris Ohleth, Director, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind
- Ben Ruttenberg, Director, Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
4:40 PM - 5:25 PM
Responsible Siting to Balance Offshore Wind Development & Sea-Space Challenges
The AB 525 identified additional potential sea space to meet California's offshore wind goals. In addition, BOEM has issued its draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for California offshore wind. Panel to discuss siting of current and future wind energy areas and potential mitigation measures outlined by PEIS. Sea space challenges with offshore wind include avoiding and mitigating impacts to sensitive habitat, fishing grounds, vessel routes, and marine protected areas. This panel will explore how responsible siting in the Pacific can balance offshore wind development and sea-space challenges.
5:25 PM - 5:30 PM
Day 1 Closing Remarks
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Registration, Check-In & Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:10 AM
Day 2 Kickoff & Opening Remarks
8:10 AM - 8:20 AM
Key Next Steps to Make California a Global Leader for Floating Offshore Wind & Green Growth for Coastal Communities
8:20 AM - 8:30 AM
Heavy Lifting at Humboldt Bay - New Marine Terminal to Set the Stage for Floating Offshore Wind on California's North Coast
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Investing in Seaport Facilities & Planning a Multi-Port Infrastructure Strategy
With the passage of Proposition 4 - the $10 billion Climate Bond that includes $475 million for port upgrades for offshore wind - plans are advancing for investments in infrastructure at the Port of Long Beach, Humboldt Harbor District, and elsewhere to serve the upcoming offshore wind pipeline. This panel will discuss efforts currently underway, recommendations for port upgrades in the final AB 525 Strategic Plan, port readiness direction from AB 3, and prospects for private investment, short-term financing, and grant funding to develop facilities.
9:15 AM - 9:55 AM
Building a Sustainable Offshore Wind Industry in California—Growing to 25 GW by 2045 & Beyond
As of 2025, what policies, regulation, or legislative changes are needed to increase market certainty and develop a robust offshore wind industry in California? This panel discussion will focus on a broader industry perspective of what is needed to meet California's offshore wind potential - including roadblocks and paths forward to build a sustainable industry and meet the AB 525 planning goals - over the next four years and beyond.
9:55 AM - 10:30 AM
Networking Break
10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Offshore Wind's Potential as an Engine for California Jobs & Economic Growth
10:40 AM - 11:25 AM
California Jobs and Workforce Development for Offshore Wind
Construction and maintenance of offshore wind and related facilities represents substantial opportunity to deliver economic benefits to West Coast communities. It also requires a highly skilled workforce. This panel will provide updates on progress on traditional building and construction trades skills transferable to offshore wind, the role of existing workforce training, and strategies that support successful project deployment while creating good-paying jobs in local communities.
11:25 AM - 12:10 PM
Developing a Scalable West Coast Supply Chain & Advancing Technology to Deploy California's First Offshore Wind Projects
The growth in global demand for floating offshore wind presents California with a unique opportunity to build the full-value chain from the ground up and leverage best practices from other markets to advance the clean energy transition. In order to advance this new industry, the state faces several challenges, including a limited supply chain and a lack of ports, transmission infrastructure, vessels, and workforce. Furthermore, the deepwater environment for Pacific offshore wind presents a myriad of technological challenges and opportunities for innovation. This panel will explore the essential components for developing a scalable, financially durable supply chain and identifying advancements in offshore wind technology that are needed to develop a sustainable industry and enable on-time construction and reliable project operations in California and beyond.
12:10 PM - 1:25 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:20 PM
The Role of Local Government Officials in Shaping Offshore Wind Policies in California, Hosted by Elected Officials to Protect America
1:25 PM - 1:35 PM
The Role of Offshore Wind in Planning at the CPUC to Meet California's Clean Energy Goals
1:35 PM - 2:20 PM
Perspectives on Procurement & Imperatives for Driving Offshore Wind Economies of Scale
In August, the CPUC set an initial need determination to procure up to 7.6 GW of offshore wind at scale by 2035-2037, per the AB 1373 legislation enacted in 2023. Procurement at scale for long lead-time resources like offshore wind is critical to lower costs for load-serving entities (LSEs) and ratepayers, and to increase market confidence for developers making the investments.
California's LSEs encompass a wide variety of investor-owned utilities, large public power entities, and community choice aggregators (CCAs), all moving to fulfill their SB 100 obligations. Panel will explore the role contracting for offshore wind could play in their clean energy plans, CPUC timeline for procuring at scale, implications of AB 1373 and Department of Water Resources Electricity Supply Reliability Reserve Fund, and the broader benefits of building offshore wind at scale for achieving California's clean-energy goals and meeting new demand from AI and data centers.
2:20 PM - 3:00 PM
Connecting Offshore Wind to California's Grid - Accelerating Transmission Planning & Interconnection
Planning how to interconnect GWs of offshore wind to the grid plays a central role in the race to deploy the new clean-energy resource. CAISO estimates 5-6 GW of transmission capacity may be available on the Central Coast for offshore wind and other energy resources. In contrast, very little transmission infrastructure exists to deliver power from California's North Coast. This panel will discuss CAISO’s new 2023-24 Transmission Plan and its $4.6 billion in funding to connect North Coast offshore wind, as well as SB 1006, CPUC and CAISO processes for transmission planning, and key findings from studies by DOE, NREL, PNNL, the Schatz Energy Research Center, and others.
3:00 PM - 3:40 PM
Collaboration to Enhance Opportunities for Offshore Wind on the West Coast, Around the Pacific & Beyond
The offshore wind sector sits atop a regional resource with West Coast implications and challenges, as well as shared characteristics and opportunities with offshore wind development along the Pacific Rim. Recent energy transmission and port infrastructure studies have highlighted the need for regional and international forums to address these issues. This panel will explore new developments in this space, including opportunities and models for collaboration in areas of scientific research, interagency coordination, regional wholesale electric market design, and California’s participation in the Global Offshore Wind Alliance.
3:40 PM - 3:55 PM
Imagining Floating Offshore Wind in California & America's Clean Energy Future in 2045
3:55 PM - 4:00 PM
Closing Remarks
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM