Voluntary Offshore Wind Program

Assembly Bill (AB) 209 (Chapter 251, Statutes of 2022) adds Public Resources Code (PRC) sections 25992-25992.22 and establishes the Voluntary Offshore Wind Program (VOWP) at the California Energy Commission (CEC). The VOWP statutes were further amended by AB 1373 (Garcia, Chapter 367, Statutes of 2023) and AB 1417 (Stefani, Chapter 397, Statutes of 2025). The VOWP includes two integral parts: Voluntary Offshore Wind and Coastal Resources Protection Program (PRC 25992.10-25992.11) Voluntary Offshore Wind and Coastal Resources Protection Fund (PRC 25992.20-25992.22) The purpose of the VOWP is to support state activities that complement and are in furtherance of federal laws related to the development of offshore wind facilities. The CEC can accept voluntary donations to fund specific activities, including agency capacity and coordination, environmental impacts monitoring and research, workforce development, infrastructure readiness, and capacity for tribes and local communities. Prior to accepting donations and developing funding opportunities, the CEC will develop program guidelines to implement the program. Additionally, the CEC is implementing the program reporting requirements under PRC section 25992.21, which states that offshore wind entities shall report to the CEC every 90 days if they have made a donation to an eligible entity for capacity funding activities and grants. Per PRC 25992.21, the CEC will collect this information from offshore wind entities and annually report on donations made for capacity funding activities. For more information on the program reporting requirements, please see the “Offshore Wind Entity Reporting,” listed in the headings below. Expand All Collapse All Program Status The CEC is developing program guidelines that will describe program implementation and the procedures for accepting donations. Until program guidelines are formally adopted, the CEC does not anticipate receiving donations for this program. To date, this program has not received any other deposits. The CEC is initiating program reporting requirements under PRC 25992.21, which state that offshore wind entities shall report to the CEC on donations made directly to eligible entities. The CEC will then report annually on donations made by offshore wind entities. Stay informed of other items by signing up for the  Offshore Renewable Energy email subscription . Offshore Wind Entity Reporting Who is required to report? Per PRC 25992.21 (c), offshore wind entities shall report to the CEC on donations made to an eligible entity. An offshore wind entity as defined by PRC 25992.5 (e), is any entity engaged in offshore wind energy development that meets all of the following criteria: Has a planned generation capacity of 50 megawatts or more. Engages in development activities expected to impact the coastal environment, marine environment, or human environment, as those terms are defined by Section 1331 of Title 43 of the United States Code, of the California coast or submerged lands. Will be required to obtain a other authorization from the State Lands Commission, the California Coastal Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Water Resources Control Board, a California regional water quality control board, the State Air Resources Board, the Public Utilities Commission, the Independent System Operator, or another state agency or local government, in connection with its development activities. What must be reported? Offshore wind entities must report on donations made to eligible entities.

is also an eligible entity if each coalition member is also an eligible entity. For purposes of this subdivision, “California tribes” means California Native American tribes identified on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission or a federally recognized tribe, as defined in Section 11019.81 of the Government Code. The report must include: The aggregate amount of donations made. The number of groups or tribes that received donations. The counties where those groups or tribes are based. The types of eligible entities that received a not limited to, whether the eligible entity is a tribe, community group, local government or third party.  Additionally, the CEC is seeking optional information intended to improve transparency and help