OREC Testifies in Senate Subcommittee Hearing

November 4, 2009-Carolyn Elefant, counsel for The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition (OREC), today testified in front of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coastguard.  Elefant’s testimony, delivered to Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA), stressed the importance of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as she discussed the […]

President Obama Announces Ocean Task Force

On June 12, 2009, President Obama announced the formation of an Oceans Task Force, comprised of heads of various federal agencies, to develop a national policy on oceans that “ensures the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhances the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, […]

OREC Summary of MMS Regulatory Framework

As you know from our earlier post, the MMS regulations for leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf which issued back in April will take effect on June 22, 2009.  In anticipation of the regulation effective date, MMS is conducting a series of workshops to describe this new Regulatory Framework and to respond to questions.  For […]

OREC Welcomes Two Summer Staffers

OREC is pleased to announce that we have two staffers on board for the summer – Alex Smith and Anthony Moliterno, who are students at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and participants in the Washington Internship Institute Program.  We’ll be keeping our staffers busy with all of the Hill and regulatory matters that […]

Markey/Waxman legislation on Climate Change Released; News for Marine Renewables Developers

On May 15, 2009, Representatives Waxman and Markey released the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) (H.R. 2454) comprehensive energy legislation to deploy clean energy resources, increase energy efficiency, cut global warming pollution, and transition to a clean energy economy. This brief summary focuses on key provisions of the the bill relevant […]

Marine Renewables News Round-Up

Here’s a quick round up of some recent developments and interesting news items from the past two weeks: The Scottish Saltire Prize – the largest single innovation prize for marine renewables –  which I posted about a year ago continues to attract international attention.   According to this story, 100 entities from 23 different countries worldwide have submitted entries […]

FERC FY10 Budget Shows Limited Growth For Marine Renewables

We at OREC recently reviewed FERC’s FY10 Budget to see if we could glean any insights about the future of the marine renewables industry. Going by FERC’s budget predictions, there won’t be much significant growth in the marine renewables industry, at least over the next two years.  From the budget document: Since FY 2007, FERC has experienced […]

Good News! President’s Budget Released

Good news!  The President’s FY10 budget request to Congress that was just released (view it here) includes $30 million for the Water Power R&D program.  By comparison, President Bush’s budget request for FY09 was only $3 million.  By the end of the appropriations cycle for FY09, Congress had appropriated $40 million for the water power […]

Ocean projects face daunting financial, regulatory hurdles

“Reprinted from [EENEws.net] with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net. 202/628-6500. Want to see more news like this? Go to www.eenews.net!” By Katie Howell, E & E Reporter (04/15/2009) The ocean could provide 2 percent of U.S. electricity needs within 15 years if there is a sea change in regulation, financing and deployment, […]

Marine industry banking on climate regs

“Reprinted from [EENEws.net] with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net. 202/628-6500. Want to see more news like this? Go to www.eenews.net!” By Katie Howell, E&E reporter (04/17/2009)- The fledgling marine energy industry needs incentives offered in possible federal climate regulations and about $200 million in private capital to lift its prospects, experts said at […]