Time For Marine Renewable Energy Funding

It’s time to write and call your elected representatives. Remember that e-mail, fax and phone are the three quickest ways to get your message across.

The below letter to your Member of Congress and Senators requests funding for Marine Renewables R&D. If you have any questions or need further information related to this letter or lobbying your elected Federal representatives, please call or e-mail any member of the OREC team.

Write and call your Senators and Representatives today!   The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act authorized R&D programs for ocean renewable energy…now we need funding appropriated to get those programs funded above the President’s budget request of only $40 million. OREC has asked for $100 million in fiscal year 2011 to fund Department of Energy research and development and demonstration programs. These are critically needed funds for a young industry on the verge of becoming part of a reliable, affordable, clean energy mix.

Please support increased funding for ocean renewables!

Here are some points to include in your letter and tips for contacting your representative.

Ø The energy potential of the ocean and tidal areas is nearly limitless but, until now, it has been virtually untapped.

Ø Significant advances in recent years in technologies and materials developed for deep offshore platforms, remotely controlled submersible vessels and wind turbines make it possible now to generate electricity from marine resources on a large scale basis.

Ø Marine renewables provide clean, affordable energy.

Ø Fund Marine Renewable energy research and development to support energy security through greater diversity in our energy supply portfolio

Ø Reliable, affordable, clean energy is the foundation upon which rests our economic development, quality of life, environment, even our commitment to peace.

Tips on Contacting your Elected Representative

Contact only those Senators and Representatives from your home state

Be specific

Be friendly

Be polite

Be reasonable, don’t ask for the impossible.

Don’t threaten, especially with your vote.

Don’t demand a final or immediate commitment, legislation is a complicated process.

Be appreciative, say “thank you”, especially when you agree with a vote or position.

Express yourself clearly.

Be brief and to the point.

Discuss only one subject, don’t confuse the issue.

Be constructive, help seek a solution.

Remember: Be Brief: Be Clear, and Be Courteous.

Where to Write

Contact only those congressmen from your home state:

To find contact information for your United States Senators go to:

http://www.senate.gov

To find contact information for your representative in the House go to:

http://www.house.gov/

[Insert Date]

The Honorable _______________

U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate

Washington DC

RE: FY 2011  Department of Energy Appropriations Program Request: Ocean/Marine Renewable Energy

Dear Congressman or Senator,

I respectfully request that you appropriate $100 million to the Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Water Power R&D account in the FY11 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, authorized in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, for basic and applied technology research and development for ocean/marine renewable technologies, including demonstration projects. The funds are necessary to support the development of marine renewable energy technologies that are on the verge of commercial viability.

A diversity of energy sources is the foundation of a reliable electrical system. North America has significant wave, tidal, and current or in-stream energy resources. Recent studies-and the burgeoning of a robust international ocean renewable industry-have proved that there is a case for investing in the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of technology to convert the kinetic energy of waves, currents, and tidal streams into electricity.

Moreover, it is essential that we support advanced R&D for marine and hydrokinetic technologies–separate and apart from conventional hydropower utilizing impounded dams and ocean thermal energy conversion, which received substantial federal funding support in the 1970′s and 1980′s. To this end, I encourage separate line items for each of these sectors so they can be accurately assessed on their own merits.

Developing renewable energy resources need federal RD&D funding support. Just as the wind energy industry has enjoyed DOE funding support for over two decades, the nascent water energy industry should receive similar federal support to develop promising technologies. Our emphasis on developing diverse energy supplies-including those from ocean renewable technologies-supports strengthening our energy security, protecting our environmental resources, and improving our quality of life.

I appreciate your consideration of this request.