LONG BEACH — A proposed 400-acre terminal project at the Port of Long Beach will benefit from lower costs and efforts to streamline its design and construction thanks to a new state bill signed Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Gavin Newsom approved Assembly Bill 2235, which aims to expedite the Port of Long Beach's Pier Wind Project

  • The project is intended to create floating offshore wind turbines and generate more renewable energy for the state

  • The proposed project is undergoing extensive environmental review by local, state and federal regulatory agencies

  • Port officials say the project would also create jobs in manufacturing, assembly, operations and maintenance of offshore wind projects on the West Coast

Gov. Gavin Newsom approved Assembly Bill 2235, authored by Assemblyman Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, which aims to expedite the Port of Long Beach's Pier Wind Project. The project is intended to create floating offshore wind turbines and generate more renewable energy for the state.

"We now have the ability to plan and build Pier Wind in a way that is smarter, faster and more cost-effective," Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach said in a statement.

AB 2235 allows the port to use alternative construction delivery methods to design and build the Pier Wind project. The bill previously cleared the state Senate and Assembly in August.

"Offshore wind is a key component of California's clean energy future," Lowenthal said in a statement. "The governor's signature on AB 2235 brings our state one step closer to achieving clean, sustainable energy delivery in our beautiful state."

Pier Wind would allow for the staging, storage and assembly of some of the world's largest offshore wind turbines, standing as tall as the Eiffel Tower. According to the Port of Long Beach, fully assembled turbines would be towed by sea to wind lease areas 20 to 30 miles off the coast in Central and Northern California.

The proposed project is undergoing extensive environmental review by local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Port officials are also gathering input from Long Beach residents. If approved, construction of the $4.7 billion project could start as soon as 2027, with the first 200 acres completed in 2031, and the final 200 acres coming online in 2035.

Port officials say the project would also create jobs in manufacturing, assembly, operations and maintenance of offshore wind projects on the West Coast.

"The men and women of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union are pleased this legislation has been signed into law by the governor," Gary Herrera, president of ILWU Local 13, said in a statement. "Throughout our 90-year history of working on these docks, we have loaded and unloaded all manner of cargo from ships and barges and are excited to bring that expertise to bear on this offshore wind project at Pier Wind in the Port of Long Beach."

Chris Hannan, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, described the Pier Wind project as an "exciting opportunity" for the state.

"We look forward to seeing the project through the construction process and a continued partnership with the port," Hannan said in a statement.