Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request to the California Energy Commission (CEC) to shoot for more “ambitious” climate goals, the regulator last week adopted a planning goal to develop 25 GW of offshore wind by 2045. 

In its latest report, Offshore Wind Energy Development off the California Coast, CEC said that the “preliminary planning goals are designed to be potentially achievable but aspirational and are established at levels that can contribute significantly to achieving California’s climate goals.”

The move is the result of requirements set by Assembly Bill 525 (AB 525), which was signed by Newsom in September requiring the CEC to set a target for offshore wind development.. 

Regulators said the state should first aim to develop 2-5 GW of capacity by 2030....