The Port of Long Beach plans to build an ambitious facility to help California and the nation meet renewable energy goals in the coming decades. The floating offshore wind farm project, called Pier Wind, would support the manufacture and assembly of offshore wind turbines as tall as the Eiffel Tower. It would be the largest such facility in a U.S. port specifically designed to accommodate offshore wind turbine assembly.
Reducing the cost of wind energy
The Pier Wind project will help California harness the power of offshore wind to produce renewable energy while improving air quality by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. It will also contribute to the state’s goal of producing 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2045 and help reduce the national cost of offshore wind energy by 70% by 2035.
The facility would encompass up to 400 acres of newly constructed land located southwest of the Long Beach Gateway International Bridge in the Harbor District. The Port’s concept study provides information for further planning and discussion with state and federal officials, developers and funders for the $4.7 billion project.
Start of construction in 2027
Pier Wind will also create new jobs and career opportunities for the communities closest to the port that have been disproportionately affected by climate change and port operations. Community members will participate in and benefit from California’s transition away from fossil fuels and toward a green economy.
Construction could begin in January 2027, with the first 100 acres operational in early 2031, the next 100 acres operational in late 2031, and the final 200 acres operational in 2035. The Pier Wind project represents an important effort to combat climate change by encouraging the adoption of renewable energy and creating jobs in communities affected by the negative consequences of fossil fuel development.
