DOE/DOI FY’07 Appropriations Requests
The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition hand delivered the attached
letters and briefing paper to the key subcommittees governing
appropriations for the Department of Energy and Department of Interior.
The environment on Capital Hill is filled with conflicting priorities,
and will remain so throughout the Spring and Summer. It’s difficult to
say what the final outcome will be; however, we remain optomistic.
Here are links to the two letters and briefing paper:
Download 2pagerforFY07_funding.doc
Download energy_committee_letter_final.doc
Download Interior_Letter_Final.doc
One alternative to direct funding would be to require coastal energy projects to include an evaluation of suitable renewable energy projects as part of due diligence. In addition, to include the consideration of appropriate ocean energy technology when addressing coastal erosion mitigation – presumably by the Army Corp of Engineers. Direct funds would be nice, but absent an independent budget, tying the research to future projects may yield some appreciable progress.