NRDC New Report: Transforming California’s Ports to Improve Public Health & Support Equitable Offshore Wind
SAN FRANCISCO — NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) released a report today that outlines how to upgrade California’s offshore wind (OSW) ports to be just, equitable, and environmentally responsible. The urgency of the climate crisis requires immediate action to displace fossil fuel electricity generation by shifting to renewable energy generation, such as offshore wind.
The report, titled Winds of Change: Transforming California’s Ports to Improve Public Health and Support Equitable Offshore Wind, examines strategies to transform California ports in a way that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria air pollutant emissions in surrounding communities; protect marine and coastal ecosystems; create and support thousands of high-quality jobs; and actively reverse—rather than repeat—historical injustices to build self-determination in communities of color and low-income communities.
The report includes information on how ports can contribute to climate action and air pollution reduction goals by electrifying port construction and operation activities to reduce pollution, avoid environmental and health impacts, and support California’s climate and environmental justice goals.
“The success of OSW depends on upgrading California’s ports to handle the increased activity related to offshore turbine deployment,” said Lara Ettenson, western lead of equitable infrastructure solutions at NRDC. “This report does just that by laying out how to develop and upgrade our ports equitably while advancing California’s health, climate, and environmental justice goals.”
Another goal included in the report is the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems by requiring strong environmental safeguards such as following the mitigation hierarchy approach (avoidance, minimization, mitigation); implementing robust monitoring and evaluation protocols; and adopting an adaptive management framework.
“California’s marine and coastal ecosystems support a diverse array of ocean life, sustain and inspire communities, and help drive the state’s robust economy,” said Irene Gutierrez, a senior attorney at NRDC’s Nature program. “We can, and must, develop offshore wind responsibly, while protecting a healthy coast and ocean.”
Equity is also an important component of standing up the incoming offshore wind industry. The report says that intentional port development plans can avoid adding pollution burdens and social injustices to communities that have historically been harmed by energy infrastructure. Instead, smart design can provide community and economic benefits.
Emphasis was given to creating equitable job opportunities and economic impacts by providing high-quality career opportunities, securing strong Community Benefits Agreements and Project Labor Agreements, prioritizing local hiring, and mitigating for potential negative socioeconomic impacts of development in portside host communities.
“It is crucial to advance offshore wind in a way that eliminates air pollution and maximizes benefits to port-adjacent communities—communities that are already disproportionately burdened by toxic emissions from trucks and ships,” said Alison Hahm, a staff attorney in NRDC’s Environment, Equity & Justice Center. “It is our hope and expectation that offshore wind development will improve life expectancy in communities living on the frontlines of industrial operations.”
By prioritizing a clean energy transition, protecting environmental and cultural resources, and bringing workforce development and economic benefits to port-adjacent communities, California can turn its ports into hubs of inclusive and sustainable development and create a model for other regions to follow.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).