AB 472 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Energy: integrated energy policy report: port infrastructure for offshore wind energy development.

Summary

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , in coordination with specified agencies, to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters, and requires the Energy Commission to submit the strategic plan to the Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature on or before June 30, 2023, as specified. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, in coordination with relevant state and local agencies, to develop a plan to improve waterfront facilities that could support a range of floating offshore wind energy development activities, as specified. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report that contains an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state, presents policy recommendations based on an in-depth and integrated analysis of the most current and pressing energy issues facing the state, and includes an assessment and forecast of system reliability and the need for resource additions, efficiency, and conservation, as specified. This bill would require the Energy Commission, as part of the 2027 edition of the integrated energy policy report and each edition thereafter, and contingent upon an appropriation for this purpose, to include an assessment of funding needs for port infrastructure for offshore wind energy development, as specified. The bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with specified entities, to include in the assessment any federal, state, and local funding opportunities, including general obligation bonds and funding from the private sector, that can help build port infrastructure for offshore wind energy development.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/07/25 - Amended Assembly → 04/23/25 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Apr 23, 2025

MODERATE

AB 472 was expanded to add a new requirement for the Energy Commission to assess port infrastructure funding needs for offshore wind development as part of its biennial integrated energy policy report, starting with the 2027 edition. This creates a second channel (alongside the Governor's five-year infrastructure plan) for evaluating and identifying funding opportunities for offshore wind port infrastructure. The bill also updated findings to reflect that the AB 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan is now final rather than draft, and softened language about specific gigawatt targets.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely amending the California Infrastructure Planning Act (Government Code) to also adding a new provision in the Public Resources Code that imposes a separate assessment requirement on the Energy Commission through its integrated energy policy report process. This effectively creates two parallel mechanisms for assessing offshore wind port infrastructure funding needs: one through the Governor's five-year infrastructure plan and one through the Energy Commission's biennial report.

REQUIREMENT

New Public Resources Code Section 25302.1 requires the Energy Commission to include an assessment of funding needs for port infrastructure for offshore wind energy development in the 2027 integrated energy policy report and every edition thereafter, contingent on legislative appropriation. The assessment must cover construction and staging of foundations, manufacturing of components, final assembly, and long-term operations and maintenance facilities.

The Energy Commission must consult with the Department of Finance, Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, State Lands Commission, and California Workforce Development Board when preparing the assessment, and must include any federal, state, and local funding opportunities including general obligation bonds and private sector funding.

SCOPE

The bill now amends Government Code sections 13101, 13102, 13103, and 65042 AND adds a new section (25302.1) to the Public Resources Code, expanding its reach beyond the California Infrastructure Planning Act framework.

TECHNICAL

Findings updated to reflect that the AB 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan is now final (previously 'draft final'), with the submission date corrected to July 10, 2024. The last finding was softened from referencing specific targets of '5 gigawatts by 2030 and 25 gigawatts by 2045' to the more general statement that the state 'is on a path toward offshore wind development.'

Assembly Member Connolly was removed as a bill introducer but remains listed as a coauthor.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

May 14, 2025

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 21).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 2).

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors