OREC Speaks at OST Partnership Conference on Wave Energy in Oregon

On June 13, 2006, OREC founders Sean O’Neill and Carolyn Elefant each delivered a presentation to an audience of 150 at the invitation only, Oregon Science and Technology Partnership (OSTP) Conference on Wave Energy in Oregon.  O’Neill briefed the crowd on the state of ocean energy in the United States and OREC’s accomplishments of the past year, while Elefant focused on the interplay between federal regulation and Oregon state iniatives to develop wave energy resources.  OSPT just posted the presentations, which are available for download here.

Update on the DOER Act

There’s been further progress on the DOER (Deep Ocean Energy Resource) Act since our last post  here. As we wrote, and also reported in this article from Renewable Energy Access, the House Bill includes $20 million per year for fiscal year ‘07 through FY ‘11 in direct grants to ocean renewable projects thanks to the Inslee Amendment.  The Senate also adopted its own version of the bill which does not include funds for ocean renewables.

When Congress re-convenes in September, the House and Senate both have
bills that will increase drilling for oil and gas on the Outer
Continental Shelf.  OREC believes that if the United States needs to pump more oil and gas, some of the proceeds should be re-invested into sustainable alternative energy from clean ocean renewable resources.  We will need a full court press if we hope to have the $20 million/year for ocean renewables survive conference.

Ocean Renewables Hit the Big Times (the NY Times)

Wave, ocean and tidal power are now officially part of "all the news that’s fit to print" as evidenced by this write up (August 3, 2006) on these technologies in this New York Times business section article.  The piece profiles OREC members Verdant Power and Ocean Power Delivery, and interviews some of the larger corporate players that have expressed an interest in wave and tidal technologies.