Latest News
If you’re interested in receiving updates on our newly released reports and upcoming events, please email us at windstudies@schatzcenter.org.
Our latest offshore wind reports:
- North Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Infrastructure Ratepayer Cost Impact Analysis (Feb 2026)
- Power Behind the Redwood Curtain: A History of Electric Transmission and Natural Gas Infrastructure in Humboldt County (first pub Sept 2025 – revised Dec 2025)
- Permitting for Port Infrastructure to Support Offshore Wind in California (May 2025)
- An evaluation of existing workforce analyses and reviews professional labor needs (April 2025)
- The final report in our 3D seabird study (April 2025)
Internships and professional development
January 2026: We have updated our list of internship and professional development opportunities in the offshore wind sector. If you would like to receive update notices or would like to add your opportunity to upcoming lists, please contact our POWC team.
Our research
In 2019, our team began studying the feasibility of offshore wind development for Northern California and the US West Coast. Since then, we have conducted over 30 analyses on topics ranging from energy generation and transmission to economics and job development; port and coastal infrastructure to environmental and geological systems; and community needs and goals for shared ocean resources.
Partners
Key collaborators on our offshore wind studies have included: the American Bureau of Shipping, H.T. Harvey and Associates, MARE, Mott MacDonald, Moffat & Nichol, National Laboratory of the Rockies (NREL), Pacific Gas & Electric, Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL), Principle Power, and Quanta Technology
Funding
Our research, community engagement, and student training programs are funded by: the California Energy Commission, California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, California Ocean Protection Council, Redwood Region Climate and Community Resilience (CORE) Hub, and private donors.
Interested to contribute to our offshore wind programs? Please contact us to learn about ways you can engage.
Presentations
Offshore Wind Jobs: Preparing Northern California Tribes and Local Communities: November 12, 2025
- Video recording
- Slide deck 1, 2, and 3
Permitting for Offshore Wind Port Infrastructure Projects: July 10, 2025
Offshore Grid Connection: Cable Laying and Monitoring: May, 2025
West Coast Perspectives on Ocean Renewable Energy: February 25, 2025
Seabirds in 3D: a framework to evaluate collision vulnerability in future offshore wind developments: September 24, 2024
Offshore wind and transmission infrastructure in northwestern CA: March 25, 2024
Transmission analyses: slide decks from recent presentations
- American Association of University Women: February 2, 2024
- Tribal Offshore Wind Summit: January 30, 2024
Transmission alternatives for California north coast offshore wind: May 25, 2022
- Video recording
- Slides: California North Coast Offshore Wind — An Introduction
- Slides: California North Coast Offshore Wind — Transmission Alternatives
- Download the reports
Exploring the Feasibility of Offshore Wind Energy for the CA North Coast
In the fall of 2020, our team hosted a series of five webinar workshops on the feasibility of offshore wind energy development on California’s north coast.
In each webinar, we shared topical findings from our recently conducted studies, followed by a moderated panel discussion, and then a community Q&A.
Energy Production and Delivery, and Economic Development (9/14/20)
Ecological and Geological Environment (9/21/20)
Port and Coastal Infrastructure (9/28/20)
Community Perspectives on Regional Impacts and Opportunities (10/5/20)
Reflections and Next Steps (10/19/20)
