Huffman Delivers Over $426 Million Federal Investment for Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Farms

January 24, 2024

Humboldt, CA – This week, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler (both D-Calif.) announced that the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District will receive $426.7 million for the construction and maintenance of offshore wind infrastructure. The grant for the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind MVP (Minimum Viable Port) project comes through the Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program. The program received a substantial funding increase through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Huffman and Senator Padilla helped get passed last Congress.

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From left to right: Greg Dale, Congressman Jared Huffman, and Rob Holmlund stand at a press conference on Woodley Island. A recording of the event can be found here.

“Offshore wind is a key tool for combatting climate change while providing the power we need to improve lives and grow the economy. And we are paving the way here in Humboldt with this first-of-its-kind offshore wind project on the West Coast,” said Representative Huffman. “A large part of this grant comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped pass last Congress. Since then, I’ve been pushing the Department of Transportation to direct funds toward this game-changing project. I’ve also been working closely with BOEM to ensure we get the most out of this initiative – and it’s on track to include robust community benefits packages honoring labor, tribal, commercial fishing, and community agreements.”

“Offshore wind energy is essential to combatting the increasingly devastating effects of climate change as California strives to reach 100 percent carbon-free power,” said Senator Padilla. “This substantial investment in the Harbor District will not only boost economic development in the Humboldt community, but also move us closer toward our clean energy and grid reliability goals. Once again, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering for California and creating good-paying jobs by funding innovative clean energy technology.”

“It is important to invest in California’s infrastructure with an eye towards our green energy goals,” said Senator Butler. “The $426 million secured from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s INFRA Grant will help establish Humboldt County as a leader in clean energy and will allow us to plan for a future with unpredictable climate challenges.”

“Supporting offshore wind development is proof of our commitment to clean, renewable energy and to sustainable jobs and economic development for our community,” Stephen Kullmann, Vice President of the Board of Commissioners for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.

Specifically, the Humboldt Bay project will involve the construction of a modern marine terminal primarily for the transport, import, staging, preassembly, final assembly, launch, in-water construction, and long-term maintenance of floating offshore Wind Turbine Devices in the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. The project also includes environmental protection measures such as an eco-shoreline.

Representative Huffman has long been a strong advocate for expanding the production and use of renewable energy, including offshore wind. Huffman previously applauded the Biden administration’s offshore wind energy lease sale off the coast of Central and Northern California in 2022, the first offshore wind lease sale off the West Coast. Last year, he announced $8.6 million for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District through the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s FY 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Program.

“It is a remarkable honor for the Harbor District to receive Federal funding for construction of the proposed Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project. The project is designed to serve as a multi-purpose port facility to support offshore wind throughout the West Coast of the US. This is Humboldt County’s opportunity to be a national leader in addressing climate change, sea level rise, and green site development,” said Rob Holmlund, Director of Development for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.

“Today, we have been awarded an incredible investment to support an emerging industry that will move toward a carbon-neutral world, for our children and their future generations,” Chris Mikkelsen, Executive Director of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.

“I'm thrilled to see funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act coming to Humboldt County for such a worthwhile effort! For as long as I have lived in this community, people have been talking about revitalizing our port, and I'm appreciative for this significant influx of support to realize this green port project,” said Natalie Arroyo Humboldt County Supervisor, District 4.