(a) The commission, in coordination with the California Coastal Commission, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ocean Protection Council, and State Lands Commission, shall work with stakeholders, other state, local, and federal agencies, and the offshore wind energy industry to identify suitable sea space for wind energy areas in federal waters sufficient to accommodate the offshore wind planning goals established pursuant to Section 25991.1, as follows:

(1) The commission shall first identify the sea space identified by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in its 2018 call for nominations, as published in the Federal Register, Volume 83, Number 203, on October 19, 2018, and any other relevant information necessary to achieve the 2030 offshore wind planning goal established pursuant to Section 25991.1.

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(2) The commission, in coordination with the California Coastal Commission, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ocean Protection Council, and State Lands Commission, shall next identify suitable sea space for a future phase of offshore wind leasing to accommodate the 2045 offshore wind planning goal established pursuant to Section 25991.1.

(b) In identifying suitable sea space, the commission shall consider all of the following:

(1) Existing data and information on offshore wind resource potential and commercial viability.

(2) Existing and necessary transmission and port infrastructure.

(3) Protection of cultural and biological resources with the goal of prioritizing least-conflict ocean areas.

(c) In fulfilling the requirements of this section, the commission shall incorporate the information developed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force.

(d) The commission shall use the California Offshore Wind Energy Gateway, or functionally equivalent publicly accessible, commission-approved internet website, to provide relevant information developed pursuant to this section to the public.

(e) The commission, in coordination with the California Coastal Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Ocean Protection Council, the State Lands Commission, stakeholders, other state, local, and federal agencies, and the offshore wind energy industry, shall make recommendations regarding potential significant adverse environmental impacts and use conflicts, such as avoidance, minimization, monitoring, mitigation, and adaptive management, consistent with California’s long-term renewable energy, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and biodiversity goals.

(f) Nothing in this section is intended to modify the authority of state agencies over project-specific siting and permitting.

(g) The findings and recommendations resulting from activities undertaken pursuant to this section shall be included in the chapter of the strategic plan relating to the identification of sea space as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 25991.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 231, Sec. 2. (AB 525) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, pursuant to Sec. 25991.10.)