Thread by @W_J_Henry

Inspired by the start of the Oregon Legislature 2021 session today and this tweet by @drvolts about offshore wind on the east coast, it is time for a thread on OSW on the west coast. Along with huge challenges, there are many encouraging signs. 1/14

https://twitter.com/drvolts/status/1348736663409709056?s=20

First, where is the best location for OSW? It happens to be right on the border between Oregon and California. @BOEM_DOI has an awesome offshore wind planning data portal that shows this well. 2/14
portal.westcoastoceans.org

This location is important for two reasons:

1. There is little transmission infrastructure reaching this area today (though there is a @bonnevillepower corridor that gets close), so large new facilities are needed to connect OSW. 3/14

2. Assuming both states are interested in OSW in this area, and that new transmission will be built to ship wind energy out to the PNW and CAISO systems, an obvious new possibility follows: connecting these facilities in the middle to create a new intertie between regions. 4/14

Why is new transmission between the PNW and California important? Setting aside gigawatts of new high capacity factor wind, just the presence of new transfer capability between regions would be highly valuable. 5/14

The reason is complimentary resources: Hydro in the north and solar in the south. Amid all its constraints, the PNW hydro system remains very flexible, and it showed during the heat wave last year. More hydro likely could have been delivered. 6/14

https://twitter.com/W_J_Henry/status/1299231749185052672?s=20

On the other side of the coin, the PNW also faces reliability challenges, but they occur in winter. Importing more energy from California during peak hours will save $ in the PNW, and make $ for CA solar + storage resources during times when capacity is not needed locally. 7/14

But can we truly build big things anymore without too many parties that don't like building anything at all getting in the way? Helping to answer that question is great work being done in both states to delve into the substantial economic opportunity that may await. 8/14

In California, @SchatzEnergy has taken a big step in assessing what it means for Humboldt to launch a new industry. This work looks at the only lease area BOEM has defined, off the coast of Eureka. The much larger opportunity lies ~50 miles north. 9/14

schatzcenter.org/wind/

In Oregon, advocacy activity has rapidly taken shape in the past year, and like the work in California, a major focus is the prospect of nurturing a new industry that could deliver much needed economic development -- and do it in a way that is embraced locally. 10/14

The Oregon Coast Energy Alliance Network (follow @OceanwindsOrg) is building solutions to the obvious siting challenges from the ground up, positioning local interests as resources to be relied upon as a central part of a holistic planning process. 11/14

The Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (follow @PacOceanTrust), has a long track record in ocean energy from wave energy research. POET is helping stitch together various federal, state, local, regulatory and legislative initiatives into a critical mass to support development. 12/14

What is needed now? The Oregon legislature has the ability to roll this ball forward as it takes up the matter of a 100% clean electricity standard. A provision for a MW target for OSW, and study initiative for connecting with California would do just that. 13/14 #orleg #orpol

Finally, enjoy this view of one of the best offshore wind potential areas in the world! 14/14