California has some of the best conditions for offshore wind in the world and the resource plays a key role in the state’s goal to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2045.
Per Assembly Bill (AB) 525 statute, the California Energy Commission (CEC) worked with relevant federal, state and local agencies, tribes and stakeholders to develop a strategic plan to develop up to 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy in federal waters off the California coast.
On January 19, 2024, the CEC released a draft report of the AB 525 Strategic Plan for Offshore Wind Development which is currently available for public review and comment. During this webinar, key staff members from CEC’s Offshore Wind Energy Planning Unit will provide an overview of sections from the AB 525 Strategic Plan, including identification of suitable sea space for a future lease process, transmission planning, and ports and supply chain.
For more information about the Draft AB 525 Strategic Plan, interim reports, and consultant reports visit the following webpage: AB 525 Reports: Offshore Renewable Energy (ca.gov)
About Our Presenters:
Danielle Mullany is an Electric Generation System Specialist in the Offshore Wind Energy Planning unit in the Siting, Transmission, and Environmental Protection (STEP) Division at the California Energy Commission (CEC). In her role, she leads data analysis and modeling efforts for offshore wind energy. This includes siting for floating offshore wind turbines and identifying potential conflicts and impacts of technology development.
Danielle has been with the Energy Commission since 2018. Prior to working in the STEP division, she worked in the Data Integration and Policy Office in the Energy Assessment Division, working on data analytics for transportation fuels in California. While there she developed expertise in data processing and analysis, as well as communicating complex information to stakeholders.
Danielle has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara and a certificate in Technology Management. She has been an active member of AWWEE since 2019.
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Barminski is the Offshore Wind Federal Programs and Outreach Liaison at the California Energy Commission (CEC). She joined the CEC at the start of 2023, transitioning her career from the national perspective of the Business Network for Offshore Wind (Oceanic Network as of October 2023) to state service supporting the development of the California market and supply chain. She has six years of experience at a non-profit organization in the fast-paced, nascent offshore wind industry.
Elizabeth dedicated herself to learning about the offshore wind industry in the U.S. and abroad. Her experience working with colleagues from government agencies, industry executives, small business owners, machine operators, labor leaders, and conference organizers provided exposure to the breadth of the supply chain and workforce engaged in moving offshore wind development forward.
In her new role, Elizabeth is engaging with a multitude of state, federal, tribal, workforce, community, stakeholder, and industry organizations as a member of the CEC team, bringing her skill set to bear in California.
Lorelei Walker is an Energy Analyst in the Transmission Planning Unit and on the Offshore Wind team within the Siting, Transmission, and Environmental Protection Division at the California Energy Commission (CEC). She joined the CEC in early 2023 and is one of the primary authors of the recently released Assembly Bill 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan.
Prior to her work at the CEC, she was a Clean Energy Fellow at the Schatz Energy Research Center where she worked on the Northern California and Southern Oregon Offshore Wind Transmission Study and authored the report, Competitive Offshore Wind Leases on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: A Review of the Use of Multiple-Factor Auctions and Nonmonetary Credits.
Lorelei has experience with policy analysis, community benefits agreements, offshore wind lease processes, offshore wind-related transmission needs, transmission corridor planning, energy modeling, and electric generation system planning. Lorelei has an undergraduate BS degree in Energy and Climate with a minor in Environmental Policy, and a graduate MS degree in Energy, Technology, and Policy. At the CEC, Lorelei works alongside the other state and federal energy planning agencies as well other local, state, and federal agencies involved within the offshore wind framework. She is a new member of AWWEE.
Registration
Registration is free for AWWEE members. Members can add up to 2 guests (new to AWWEE only please).
Non-member registration fee is $20.