1 Community Development Department / Harbor Department
April 28, 2026
Morro Bay O&M Facility Study
Introduction
2 Team
• Consultant Team:
• Charlie Poole, Mott MacDonald
• Derek Lerma, Rincon Consultants
• County:
• Mark LaRue, Deputy Director of Planning and Building
• City Staff:
• Chris Munson, Harbor Director
• Airlin Singewald, Community Development Director
3 Background
• 2022: San Luis Obispo County awarded $1M for offshore wind feasibility study.
• 2023: California State Lands Commission’s AB 525 plan identified Morro Bay and San Luis Bay as appropriate
candidates for an O&M facility.
• 2024: County used hired Mott MacDonald to conduct
feasibility studies for Morro Bay and Port San Luis.
• Past 18 months: City staff met with Mott MacDonald and County to provide input on study.
4 Purpose
• The O&M feasibility study is informational only.
• The City has not received an application for OSW
development.
5 Key Takeaways
• The least constrained alternative would face significant hurdles from a regulatory, environmental, and community acceptance perspective.
• The City would retain local land use control (based on current regulatory framework).
• Staff would encourage a future OSW developer to conduct community workshops.
• Further study would be required to determine the net
economic benefits of OSW development.
MORRO BAY -
OPERATIONS &
MAINTENANCE FACILITY
STUDY
7 AGENDA
1 What Is an Offshore Wind O&M Facility
2 3 Concepts
4 Environmental and Planning Considerations
5 Outcomes
Study Methodology
WHAT IS AN O&M
FACILITY?
9 Morro Bay
San Luis Obispo Bay
SLO County Morro Bay Wind
Energy Area
10 What is an O&M Facility?
Staging and Construction Facilities
• Generally larger than 50 acres
• Facilities to enable buildout of the offshore wind farm • Manufacturing and assembly sites for the full WTG system prior to towing and installation
• Wet storage for fabricated floating WTG foundations
• WTG repair facility
Operation and Maintenance Facilities
• Berths for O&M support vessels
• Modest laydown areas
• On or off-site offices
• On or off-site warehouse space for spare parts and
equipment for repairs which can be performed in the field. • Long term operations facility, not mega-construction
Study focus
Generic O&M Facility
Image source: Clean Energy Terminals
Generic S&I Port
Source: Mott MacDonald
11 Typical O&M Vessels
Design Vessels
Vessel Service Operation Vessel
(SOV)
Docking
frequency
Once every 2 weeks for 12 hours
Purpose Supports multi-day O&M trips, provides
accommodations for wind farm workers
and assists with servicing and repairing
wind turbines
Length 300 ft
Draft 25ft
Beam 75ft
Vessel Crew Transfer Vessel
(CTV)
Docking
frequency
Daily
Purpose These vessels are used to transport
and shuttle wind farm technicians and
other personnel out to sites on a daily
basis. No live aboard accommodation.
Length 90ft
Draft 10ft
Beam 30ft
Representative
images for
illustration only
12 Potential benefits of an O&M facility to a region
Long-term benefits of a successful project may include:
Job creation and upskilling to service the windfarm.
Potential opportunities for supply chain businesses to fabricate serviceable offshore wind components. Revenue income for the City from developers who use the facility. Investment to repair and maintain waterfront infrastructure. Potential investment for coastal protection upgrades within the bay and beach nourishment from dredging Potentially safer navigation for all vessels, recreational and commercial. Improvements to public facilities augmented by the new facility, such as the Harbor Department and U.S Coast Guard facility office and a new boat lift (if required for CTVs). 13 Study Approach
14 Role of the studies
Two sites identified by previous studies as potential
locations for O&M support:
– Morro Bay
– San Luis Obispo Bay
For each site:
Study of Infrastructure and Siting Technical Feasibility (MM) – Assessed existing waterfront infrastructure, vessel
needs, navigation, berth tranquility and dredging.
– Developed and appraised multiple concept-level
layouts.
Appendix — Environmental Constraints & Permitting
(Rincon):
– Desktop study of environmental sensitivities
– Mapped regulatory pathways
– Flagged land-use conflicts
15 Existing Conditions:
• Data collection
• Perform initial coastal and geotechnical
studies
Study Approach
How will we determine the feasibility of an O&M port in this location Functional Requirements / Design
Basis:
What are the minimum function
requirements of an O&M facility?
Conceptual waterfront infrastructure design
• Preliminary concept options
• Structural and dredging assessment
• Cost
Gap assessment:
• What upgrades are required?
Basis of Assessment:
Public Engagement Event
• Final concept overview
Appendix — Environmental
Constraints & Permitting (Rincon):
• Identified environmental sensitivities
• Mapped regulatory pathways
• Flagged land-use conflicts
16 Existing Conditions and
Basis of Assessment
17 Existing Conditions
T-Piers
• Both North and
South T-Pier are
inadequate in
structural capacity
and integrity to
support O&M
operations.
• Replacement of
structure would be
necessary to
support vessel and
equipment loads.
18 Existing Conditions
Morro
Bay
• Industrial land in
proximity would be
suitable for O&M
requirements
• Popular with tourists and
locals for town
amenities, wildlife
spotting,
paddleboarders, surfers,
fishing
• Poor condition of coastal
protection, shoaling
witnessed within the
navigation channel
19 Constraints Mapping
20 Examples of Minimum
Functional Requirements
LAT (-2ft MLLW)
Wharf/Berth
Draft
UKC
B
Channel Width
Channel Depth
Examples of Design Criteria
O&M port facilities typically include:
Jetties for CTVs (90ft vessels)
Quaysides for SOVs (300ft Vessels)
Upland warehouses for spare parts
Workshops for sorting equipment brought
back from site, pre-assembly of parts and
equipment to go to site, and minor
refurbishment
Office buildings to house the operations
control center and crew mess.
Parking lot for turbine maintenance crews,
vessel crew and windfarm operations staff.
LEAST
CONSTRAINED
ALTERNATIVES
22 Scenarios Assessed
Scenario 1:
All three OSW
developers from
Morro Bay Wind
Energy Area
3 x SOVs (large 300ft
vessels)
3 x CTV (medium 90ft
vessels)
23 Least constrained Option – Variant A
(Vistra property used, subject to agreement)
Scenario 1 (three developers)
Development
Focused on
elongated North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
If Vistra property
unavailable,
additional land would
be required in the
Triangle Lot
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
24 Least constrained Option – Variant A
(Vistra property used, subject to agreement)
Scenario 1 (three developers)
Development
Focused on
elongated North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
If Vistra property
unavailable,
additional land would
be required in the
Triangle Lot
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
25 Least constrained – Variant B (Vistra property not used) Scenario 1 (three developers)
Development
Focused on
elongated north TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Additional land would
be required in the
Triangle Lot for use
as intermediate
staging area.
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
26 Least constrained – Variant B (Vistra property not used) Scenario 1 (three developers)
Development
Focused on
elongated north TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Additional land would
be required in the
Triangle Lot for use
as intermediate
staging area.
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
27 Scenarios Assessed
Scenario 1: All three OSW
developers from Morro
Bay Wind Energy Area
3 x SOVs (large 300ft
vessels)
3 x CTV (medium 90ft
vessels)
Scenario 2
(Split- Location)
One developer only.
Other developers would
operate from other
ports (e.g., SLO or
elsewhere)
1 x SOV (large 300ft
vessel)
1 x CTV (medium 90ft
vessel)
28 Split Location – Variant A
Scenario 2 (One Developer at Morro Bay)
Development
Focused on North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Intermediate Staging
zone within the
Triangle Lot (subject
to City agreement)
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
29 Split Location – Variant A
Scenario 2 (One Developer at Morro Bay)
Development
Focused on North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Intermediate Staging
zone within the
Triangle Lot (subject
to City agreement)
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
30 Split Location – Variant B
Scenario 2 (One Developer at Morro Bay)
Development
Focused on North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
Vistra property used, subject to agreement
31 Split Location – Variant C
Scenario 2 (One Developer at Morro Bay)
Development
Focused on North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
Vistra property used, subject to agreement
32 Split Location – Variant C
Scenario 2 (One Developer at Morro Bay)
Development
Focused on North TPier
T-Pier shared with
USCG and Harbor
Dept, Fish & Wildlife
Public access to TPier maintained.
Public use boat lift
provided indicatively
Off-site warehouses,
offices and parking
All options have
significant social and
environmental impacts,
reducing the technical
viability
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS
34 Environmental Constraints and Considerations
Biological Resources and Regulatory Approvals
Sensitive Habitats
Morro Bay contains a diversity of
sensitive habitats including:
wetlands, eelgrass beds, beach and
dune systems, tidal mud flats and salt
marsh. Sensitive resource areas and
regulatory protections were used to
inform the environmental feasibility
analysis part of the study.
Protected Species
Morro Bay is a state marine reserve
and recreational management area
providing critical habitat to southern sea
otters, snowy plovers and rare plants,
and is an important migratory pathway
for marine mammals and avian species.
Avoiding impacts to protected species
was accounted for during facility siting
discussions.
35 Environmental Constraints and Considerations
Existing Land Use Plans and Environmental Planning Requirements Historic Waterfront Uses
Morro Bay Harbor has supported a
commercial, industrial and
recreational uses since its
development evolving into today’s
configuration in the 1950s. Today,
Morro Bay relies on tourism and to a
lesser extent commercial fishing.
Land use planning jurisdiction
including Measure D and A24
guides future development and
remains under local control.
The Future of Morro Bay
Upgrades and redevelopment of
Morro Bay’s Embarcadero and
Waterfront is coming and will be
guided by the City and the
community. Integrating community
priorities and critical infrastructure
repairs will incorporate existing
priorities and future needs both
along the shoreline and in the Bay.
36 Environmental Constraints and Considerations
Federal, State and Local Authorizations and Approvals Required Environmental Statutes
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• Federal Endangered Species Act
• California Endangered Species Act
• Clean Water Act
• Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
• National Historic Preservation Act
• California Fish and Game Code
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
• Native Plant Protection Act
• California Coastal Act
• Marine Mammal Protection Act
• Magnuson-Steven Fishery Conservation and Management Act • Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
• Coastal Zone Management Act
• National Invasive Species Act
• Marine Life Protection Act
• Marine Life Management Act
• Marine Invasive Species Act
• Morro Bay General Plan
• Morro Bay Local Coastal Program
OUTCOMES
38 Outcomes
Should a project be proposed in the future, this study identified that:
Existing T-Piers would be unsuitable for use or adaptation; new infrastructure would be required.
Development should be focused on the North T-Pier to reduce dredging impacts. Offices, storage yards, warehouses and parking lots should be located off-site in industrially-zoned land to keep waterfront development to a minimum. 39 Outcomes
Should a project be proposed in the future, this study identified that:
All concepts would result in potential environmental and social impacts All concepts are potentially inconsistent with the City’s current and recently updated General Plan, Zoning Code, and voter initiatives. No project can proceed without extensive public process Even the least-constrained concepts would therefore face significant regulatory challenges.
No design has been proposed at this time.
THANK YOU