Bill Text: CA AB80 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Coastal resources: ocean research: West Coast Offshore Wind Science Entity.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-09-01 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB80 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB80-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 23, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 80

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Introduced by Assembly Member Addis
(Coauthor: Senator Laird)

December 15, 2022

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An act to add Section 35623 to the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources. coastal resources.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 80, as amended, Addis. Offshore Wind Coastal Protection Act. Coastal resources: ocean research: West Coast Offshore Wind Science Entity.

Existing law establishes the Ocean Protection Council in state government to, among other things, establish policies to coordinate the collection, evaluation, and sharing of scientific data related to coastal and ocean resources among agencies.

This bill would require the council, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, to establish and oversee, in coordination with other unspecified state agencies, a West Coast Offshore Wind Science Entity for the purpose of ensuring that comprehensive baseline monitoring of the California ocean ecosystem as well as targeted research are available and used to inform state and federal decisions, as provided. The bill would require the entity to perform specified functions, including reviewing and incorporating existing research, monitoring, and data standardization.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, in coordination with relevant federal, state, and local agencies, to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters, and requires the commission to submit the strategic plan to the Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature on or before June 30, 2023. Existing law requires the commission, on or before June 1, 2022, to evaluate and quantify the maximum feasible capacity of offshore wind to achieve reliability, ratepayer, employment, and decarbonization benefits and to establish megawatt offshore wind planning goals for 2030 and 2045. Existing law requires the commission, in coordination with specified state entities, to work with stakeholders, other state, local, and federal agencies, and the offshore wind energy industry to identify suitable sea space for wind energy areas in federal waters sufficient to accommodate those offshore wind planning goals. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2027.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to create the Offshore Wind Coastal Compensation Fund for purposes of mitigating the impacts of the deployment of offshore wind infrastructure in California on the tourism industry, marine and other coastal wildlife, the fishing industry, and other entities, funding costs associated with the future decommissioning of obsolete offshore wind infrastructure, and providing funding to marine life sanctuaries, federally recognized tribes, cities, and counties.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 35623 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

35623.

 (a) The council, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, shall establish and oversee, in coordination with other state agencies, a West Coast Offshore Wind Science Entity for the purpose of ensuring that comprehensive baseline monitoring of the California ocean ecosystem as well as targeted research are available and used to inform state and federal decisions about offshore wind development in federal waters and the management of any impacted marine resources.

(b) The entity shall collaboratively support and recommend science and research pathways to ensure that decisions about offshore wind development and wildlife are made in an environmentally responsible manner that safeguards coastal and marine resources.

(c) The entity shall be supported by subcommittees of scientists and traditional knowledge holders and led by a steering committee composed of state and federal agencies, tribal groups, the offshore wind industry, and environmental nonprofit organizations.

(d) The entity shall perform all of, but not be limited to, the following functions:

(1) Reviewing and incorporating existing research, monitoring, and data standardization.

(2) Ensuring appropriate data and standards are in place to support science priorities.

(3) Identifying research needs or data gaps and recommending how to coordinate and prioritize research to address these gaps.

(4) Identifying tools, methods, and technologies that may be used to support needed monitoring and research and recommending applications.

(5) Hosting a data portal and housing publicly available information to support transparency in decisionmaking.

(6) Allocating funds to address science priorities.

SECTION 1.

(a)This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Offshore Wind Coastal Protection Act.

(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to create the Offshore Wind Coastal Compensation Fund for purposes of mitigating the impacts of the deployment of offshore wind infrastructure in California on the tourism industry, marine and other coastal wildlife, the fishing industry, and other entities, funding costs associated with the future decommissioning of obsolete offshore wind infrastructure, and providing funding to marine life sanctuaries, federally recognized tribes, cities, and counties.