HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210518_Cal Poly Blue EnergyCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
May 18, 2021
The Honorable Alex Padilla
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202)224-2200
RE: Support California Polytechnic State University Request for Community Funding
Project - Marine Energy Innovation Hub @ Cal Poly Pier
Dear Senator Padilla:
On behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo the City is offering our full support for the California
Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Community Funding Project request to create a
Marine Energy Innovation Hub @ Cal Poly Pier.
California is poised to become a leader in climate-smart technologies, aggressively reducing
fossil fuel use and increasing incentives to invest in renewable energy production for sources
like solar and wind. While oceans are often cast as victims of climate change, they have
enormous potential to help solve the climate crisis through ‘Blue Economy’ industries. The
Blue Economy seeks sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved
livelihoods, and jobs, while preserving and improving the health of ocean ecosystems.
With the closure of Diablo Canyon, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties can become
leaders in Blue Economy employment, which will reinvent the region's economy. This
proposed project aligns with the REACH 2030 pillars to foster start-up businesses, attract
high-wage industries, and influence transformation of Diablo Canyon that will contribute to
achieving the goal of creating 15,000 good-paying jobs in the next decade. Cal Poly’s
established, respected, and growing Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, as well as the existing
infrastructure at the Cal Poly Pier, can promote growth of Blue Economy industries
throughout the region and the State of California.
Cal Poly is proposing to create a Marine Energy Innovation Hub @ Cal Poly Pier. The goal
for this facility is to be nationally and internationally known for its ability to support testing
of new technologies to improve energy efficiency, develop new renewable sources of energy,
increase sustainability, and explore ways to better understand changes occurring in the oceans.
These would include testing prototype marine energy devices, including wave, wind, and tidal
energy, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), ocean-cooling for server farms, and many
others.
In addition, this facility will greatly increase the ability of the Cal Poly Center for Coastal
Marine Sciences to expand Blue Economy research. Such increased capacity will amplify the
public benefit by supporting impactful local research and student training. These proposed
federal investments will provide critical near-term information for regulators and other
interested parties while preparing the next generation of leaders to work in the Blue Economy
in our community.
We emphatically support Cal Poly’s request to establish a Marine Energy Innovation Hub @
Cal Poly Pier; investment in this Community Funding Project will increase our regional
capabilities to promote the Blue Economy, helping make San Luis Obispo County and
California a leader in these rapidly developing fields. It will significantly increase our ability
to work together and put qualified students and faculty to work on our most challenging
problems today and into the future.
Sincerely,
Heidi Harmon
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc. San Luis Obispo City Council