This bill creates a state policy on offshore wind energy. Tells the state agency on energy to make a road map on standards for offshore wind energy. Makes a person involved in an offshore wind energy or port project to meet certain labor and supply chain standards. Tells the state agency on land use to conduct, or support, federal reviews of offshore wind leasing decisions.

-1 Amendments adopted

Declares a state policy to support engagement between offshore wind developers and impacted organizations, communities and tribes, , as well as interconnection of offshore wind energy with the Oregon Coast electrical grid. Directs the State Department of Energy to develop an Offshore Wind Roadmap that defines standards regarding the development of offshore wind energy. Authorizes DLCD to solicit and accept moneys from public and private sources, and to adopt rules, to carry out provisions of measure. Directs DLCD to conduct assessment of state policies that may be used, with focus on adequacy of existing enforceable policies and agency capacity.

Requires a developer or contractor involved in an offshore wind energy project or port development project that is necessary for the development of an offshore wind energy project to meet certain labor and supply chain standards. Directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to conduct, or support, consistency reviews of offshore wind leasing decisions and related actions. Directs the department to submit a report on the department’s activities to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy and development not later than September 1, 2025. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires developers and contractors involved in offshore wind
and related projects to participate as training agent for apprentices; establish outreach and recruitment plan for women, minorities, and veterans; and comply with specified wage standards, hours worked, and occupational safety and health. Sets requirements for domestically-produced construction materials for projects over
$250,000. Allows for workforce development agreements to comply with provisions. and specifies such agreement must include a project labor agreement, a labor peace agreement, and an agreement to use or develop domestic supply chains. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

It is not possible to have an accurate environmental risk assessment or estimated production output of these wind farms due to the lack of long-term studies on floating wind farms. There have only been a handful of 5-year studies using prototypes and some of those prototypes were disassembled and recycled after 5 years of use. All prototypes are estimated to have a life span of only 15 years.

The Pacific Ocean is the most powerful of all open oceans and the most destructive. When considering the breakdowns, failures, and fluid leaks that occur within the lifespan of a wind turbine, there is a high probability of environmental damage requiring high maintenance, and failures and leaks will be significant if there is a viable turbine able to withstand the Pacific Ocean for any period.

Some studies show wind turbines in the summer only produce 17% of what they produce in the winter. That means Oregon can only rely on 17% of the actual maximum output or be subject to rolling blackouts every summer.

-8 Amendment to fund y $998,072 for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions and increased by $199,192, for workload
related to apprenticeship and prevailing wage as related to offshore
wind energy development.

For more talking points, see this Northwest Observer article.

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