North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire, chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, or JCFA, is hosting an important hearing in Humboldt County to discuss the impacts on California’s fisheries and wildlife from offshore wind energy development.

The hearing will provide the public an opportunity to learn more about California’s developing offshore wind energy industry from agency and industry leading experts.

The JCFA will also hear testimony from environmental and fisheries leaders about their perspectives and concerns. The presenters will emphasize the need to incorporate fish and wildlife needs during the development process.

“The burgeoning Pacific offshore wind energy industry is going to be a critical component of our state’s energy supply, and as it picks up steam, we need to make sure we are taking a close look at any potential environmental impacts it could have on our state’s fisheries,” McGuire said. “We are looking forward to a robust discussion on May 3.”

Presentations and discussion will focus on how wind energy and protecting California’s fisheries can be compatible, how to mitigate potential environmental impacts in the sea and on land and why wind energy is important to the State’s energy supply.

The hearing, “California’s Fisheries and Wildlife: Can they co-exist with Offshore Wind Energy Development?” will be held Friday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, Room 203, in Eureka.

The agenda features presentations by state and federal agency and wind energy industry representatives as well as environmental advocates and fishing industry representatives.

Testimony will be provided by representatives of the Bureau of Energy Management, the California Energy Commission, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Coastal Commission, Principle Power, Schatz Energy Research Center and American Wind Energy Association.

The hearing will also include testimony from the Audubon Society, the Surfrider Foundation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association and the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance.

The public is encouraged to attend. The hearing will include a public comment period and will be livestreamed.