<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3l452C_1E5sGrEB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3l452C_1E5sGrEB00" width="1397" height="826" ><figcaption>Humboldt County Planning Director John Ford&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>Workshopping the new Humboldt Bay Area Plan, the county’s Planning Commission is highlighting the importance of offshore wind energy but leaving industrial port activity open for other uses.The extent of restricting heavy lift marine terminals – which will be necessary for wind energy but could also be used for other industrial purposes – was weighed as the commission held two workshops on the plan.Consensus on how to address heavy lift marine terminal use was reached at the second workshop, on Aug. 6, after lengthy discussion. Enthusiasm for wind energy has been tempered by a disappointing turn of events.One of the holders of an offshore ocean wind energy development lease – RWE U.S. Offshore – is vacating its Humboldt area lease and others in New York and Louisiana. The global company agreed to a payoff settlement with the Trump administration and will instead pursue U.S. natural gas development.The turnabout was in mind as commissioners discussed language on heavy lift marine terminal use in a port overlay zone, which is a separate, higher-level layer of policy.Facilities supporting oil and gas drilling and offshore mining are prohibited in the overlay plan, as the county is preparing an ordinance banning them. But commissioners said marine terminal use should be open to other businesses besides wind energy.Though Commissioner Jerome Qiriazi agreed, he noted public comment from the previous workshop, where speakers warned against allowing heavy and potentially impactful industrial uses. During the commission’s ensuing discussion, there was reluctance to narrowly focus the heavy lift terminal policy to wind energy.The discussion resumed at last week’s workshop, with the uncertainty of future wind energy development figuring in.“I tend to have a little bit of concern when it is a planning document and we start writing it or structuring it towards a specific project that may or may not happen,” said Commissioner Iver Skavdal.“I appreciate that thought,” said Planning Director John Ford. “Because actually when you think about it a little bit more, if a heavy lift terminal is built and it can only be used for wind, and for whatever reason wind doesn’t happen, then you’ve got a huge investment sitting there without a use, and there could be other uses that are compatible with the values of Humboldt County and what’s allowed in the zoning.”Commissioner Lorna McFarlane noted RWE’s lease withdrawal but also said the county’s Harbor District is “going to continue forward” with wind energy port development plans.Potential for future changes were discussed by Commissioner Peggy O’Neill.“Right now, wind is the ticket, but in five, 10, 15 years, it might be something else,” she said. She added, “We don’t know what kind of technology is coming in the future, it could be that we’re using water to generate energy.”The commission agreed to call out wind energy in the “preamble” section of the plan, referencing “the importance of offshore winds in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our overall strategy of addressing climate change,” said Ford, summarizing the language to be used.The plan will acknowledge “that it’s likely that the first project that is seen within Humboldt Bay would be a heavy lift terminal to support offshore wind,” he continued.But “when it gets down into the actual provisions, it’s just going to be a reference to a heavy lift marine terminal,” he said, drawing agreement from commissioners.The plan will be done under an Environmental Impact Report review process and Ford said “ultimately whatever a heavy lift terminal is used for” will be defined in coastal dependent industrial zoning.“Either that or they’re going to have to either get a conditional use permit or it’s just not allowed outright,” he continued. Following the first workshop, the county got significant comments from the state’s Coastal Commission and Ford said “there seems to be disagreement” about whether the agency’s directions have been followed.Consultation with the state will shape the plan further and the commission voted to continue the workshop to Sept. 3.Also included in the draft plan are policies on avoiding and mitigating harm to environmentally sensitive areas, prioritizing land uses such as coastal-dependent industrial, wastewater discharge, housing and mitigating impacts to culturally-significant areas. </div></body>

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Workshopping the new Humboldt Bay Area Plan, the county’s Planning Commission is highlighting the importance of offshore wind energy but leaving industrial port activity open for other uses. The extent of restricting heavy lift marine terminals – which will be necessary for wind energy but could also be used...

With Offshore Wind Uncertain, Humboldt Bay Port Plan Keeps Options Open

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Workshopping the new Humboldt Bay Area Plan, the county’s Planning Commission is highlighting the importance of offshore wind energy but leaving industrial

With Offshore Wind Uncertain, Humboldt Bay Port Plan Keeps Options Open

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