###

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Board of Commissioners will receive a status update on the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project during tonight’s regular meeting. Tonight’s report will include more information on the district’s recent decision to extend its “Exclusive Right to Negotiate” agreement with Crowley Wind Services, the marine logistics company that’s been selected to build a full-service facility to support offshore wind development on the West Coast. 

The agreement, which prevents the district from negotiating with other potential developers, was set to conclude at the end of this month. The extended agreement will end in March 2024.

The Harbor District has spent the last year working with Crowley to design the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project, to be located at Redwood Marine Terminal 1 on the Samoa Peninsula, and come up with a lease agreement for the project site.

The proposed development has sparked controversy among some local stakeholders and tribal leaders who have asked the Harbor District to reconsider its partnership with Crowley following allegations of sexual misconduct among some company higher-ups. Others, including some local environmental advocacy groups, have questioned the legality of entering into a lease agreement before environmental review.

“Since signing the ERTN agreement in October of 2022, the District and Crowley have received numerous comments and questions from community members about the possibility of a lease,” the staff report states. “Both parties have been actively listening to Tribal governments, community members, interested parties, and affected communities. Both parties continue to work diligently to understand concerns and to evaluate how various interests could be reflected in a lease.”

Staff will also provide a general update on port development efforts during tonight’s meeting, including the project schedule, budget, tasks completed, tasks underway, upcoming tasks and the latest overall project strategy.

###

The Harbor District Board of Commissioners will meet tonight at 6 p.m. in the Woodley Island Marina Meeting Room – 601 Startare Drive, Eureka. Remote viewing instructions and the agenda can be found here.

###