350 Humboldt

The update and request below is from Rachel Smith of CORE-Hub, which is coordinating community actions to achieve community benefits and community agreements around the development of floating offshore wind in Humboldt. If you are able to speak at Thursday’s Harbor District meeting, talking points are at the bottom of this email.

350 Humboldt Offshore Wind Committee

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Are you participating in the Harbor District meeting on Thursday (12/14 at 6pm) or encouraging a colleague, friend, neighbor or relative to participate?

The exclusive right to negotiate with Crowley has been extended to March. This means the option to lease would likely go before the Commissioners sometime between January through March, which allows for more time to work with the District and Crowley to ensure legally binding commitments to address community priorities and protections are included in the option. If you/your colleague/relative/friend haven’t commented to the District about what’s important, it is a great time to do so as the option is in its final stages of development. (side note: the extension also creates space for state agency advocacy and engagement with the County to ensure a strong community agreement is part of the option)

More on this week’s meeting:

• Open meeting begins at 6pm
• Location: 601 Startare Drive, Eureka, CA 95501 (on Woodley island)
• Harbor District Meeting Agenda Packet
• Unfinished Business item 10.a.) Receive Status Update Regarding Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project is where to make public comments.

• Of course, it is most important to share what is meaningful to you. Some ideas for public comment are included below (and in this document which also includes background info):
  • All decisions that commit the Humboldt Harbor District to such a locally and globally significant project should be made transparently and include the community and its values
    • We hope some of the communities’ interests were included in the extension of the exclusive right to negotiate
  • We want binding commitments to community governance, a zero-emissions wind terminal (using best available technology), measures to prevent and address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) and sex trafficking/harassment, community-focused infrastructure, protections for environmental and cultural resources in and around the Bay, regenerative economic investments, and ongoing resources for Tribal Nations.
  • We want an environmental review process that lets the public know what the project is and what the impacts are—and how these will be addressed—before the Commissioners approve the option to lease (the key project approval).

As you know the County of Humboldt is planning to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Crowley Wind Services on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and the Local and Regional Workforce Plans. Attached is an invitation to attend MOA listening sessions with the County. The first session is on Dec 15th, 12pm-2pm at the Samoa Women’s Club. The second session is on December 21st, 4pm-6pm at the Samoa Women’s Club. These meetings will provide an overview of the MOA and the objectives it aims to achieve and will be an opportunity for the community to give reactions and feedback.

Thank you for your ongoing leadership and partnership!

Rachael Smith

Program Manager

Humboldt Area Foundation

363 Indianola Road, Bayside CA 95524