OREC Hits the Hill for Appropriations for Ocean Energy

OREC hit Capitol Hill last month to lobby for a $60 million appropriation for ocean energy.  The request breaks down as follows:

*Basic and applied technology research:              $20 million [DOE]

*Test Facility & Ocean demonstration projects:     $30 million [DOE]

*Identify location and permit test facility:               $ 6 million [DOE]

*Resource mapping and assessment:                   $ 4 million [DOI]

Suport for the request is summarized in this attached OREC Information Packet (Word doc).
Sean O’Neill, President of OREC and Damian Kunko of SMI, walked the Hill, distributing these packets and meeting with key staffers who will help shepard OREC’s request through the budget process.  We will keep you posted on the outcome.
   

Offshore Renewables Updates

I’ve finally updated OREC’s companion weblog, The LOCE Offshore Wind and Wave Weblog.  Now at the site are blurbs on recent ocean energy developments nationally and worldwide, including in Africa, Ireland, Scotland and the US.  Also, a report on GE’s Recent Investment in Ocean Power Delivery, the UK company developing the world’s first commercial wave energy farm in Portugal.

OREC’s MMS Comments Finally Available Online

It’s been two months since February 28, 2006 when OREC filed our 80 pages of comments on MMS’ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Alternate Uses of the Outer Continental Shelf.  (for background on the significance of the MMS regulations to the offshore renewables industry, see here).  Through use of an OREC Wiki, we gathered the thoughts and research of our members, eventually culminating in these comments (large PDF file).  Other comments filed in the MMS process can be viewed here at the MMS online docket.

Under Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act, MMS was required to issue regulations within 270 days or roughly, by May 6, 2006.  It’s not clear whether MMS will meet this deadline but we will keep you posted on the outcome.