• Memorandum of understanding will jump-start career pathways for the skilled, diverse workforce needed to support offshore wind development on the North Coast 
  
• Includes a first-of-its-kind commitment to ensure Tribal Nations have direct, formal involvement in developing plans that will prioritize their employment as part of a future Project Labor Agreement  
  
• Partnership represents another step forward for California’s offshore wind industry and development of a project critical to the state’s climate targets 

Eureka, CA - 17 May 2024

Canopy Offshore Wind Farm (Canopy), a project of RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, LLC., today announced that it has formalized the early stages of partnership with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC), signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that signals its dedication to creating career opportunities for local communities and Tribal Nations.

The MOU represents a commitment to finalize a future Project Labor Agreement and other labor agreements to support the construction of the project — which would be one of the first commercial-scale floating offshore wind farms and have the potential to power 600,000 homes. The Canopy Offshore Wind Farm off the North Coast of California is in the early stages of development, with a projected operational date in the mid-2030s.

“Offshore wind in California and projects like Canopy Offshore Wind present a generational opportunity for good-paying, sustainable careers on the North Coast,” said Sam Eaton, CEO of RWE US Offshore Holdings. “California’s offshore wind industry will create thousands of jobs across development, construction and operations in the coming years and our early engagement with the SBCTC is a crucial step toward developing Canopy Offshore Wind in a way that creates long-term careers and pathways to upward mobility for area residents and tribal members. Utilizing a union workforce will ensure our project is built by the best-trained, most-skilled and safest workers in California.”

Understanding the key role Tribal Nations play in the development of offshore wind, Canopy worked closely with the SBCTC to outline a first-of-its-kind commitment to ensure Tribal Nations have direct, formal involvement in developing the plans that will prioritize their employment as part of a future Project Labor Agreement. This industry-leading approach reflects Canopy and the SBCTC’s recognition that decisions about tribal employment and workforce development can only be made after thoughtful dialogue with Tribal Nations.

“As a team, Canopy believes our project benefits from substantive early engagement. We know that to create a meaningful path toward workforce development programs for tribal members, we will need direct tribal insights and input,” said Rob Mastria, Project Director for Canopy.

Signing an MOU early will help area residents and tribal members prepare for apprenticeship opportunities, journeyperson roles and supervisory positions and means Canopy would be built by skilled and trained workers in the safest and most efficient way.

“This MOU and Project Labor Agreement will be a catalyst for workforce investments and training programs that support meaningful careers for North Coast residents and tribal members,” said Chris Hannan, President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. “We look forward to a long-term partnership with Canopy that benefits working families and the environment.”

The MOU is the first of several separate formal agreements to come for the Canopy project. Canopy can create union career opportunities throughout the lifecycle of the project, including through:

• A Project Labor Agreement and Maintenance Agreement, to be finalized closer to the start of construction and once a general contractor has been announced. 
• A separate Outside Line Agreement with utility unions, creating another level of career opportunities for skilled local workers.

“Good careers and a cleaner environment can and should go hand in hand,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg). “I am so pleased that Canopy Offshore Wind intends to build long-lasting career paths with tribal communities and North Coast residents that ultimately will benefit the whole state by bringing more clean energy to California’s grid.”

You can download the press release here.