OREC Testifies at Senate Energy Committee Hearing
Sean O’Neill offers support for MHK Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011
Sean O’Neill, President of The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition (OREC), last week testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during a hearing focused on water power issues for the marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy industry. O’Neill’s testimony highlighted the importance of the Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Promotion Act of 2011 (S.630) for the industry, recently introduced by Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
In addition to the MHK Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011, the Committee accepted testimony on the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011 (S.629), and Title I, subtitle D, of the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, which promotes the integration of energy and water policies to natural resource challenges.
Mr. O’Neill provided enthusiastic support for S.630. “This bill adds important elements to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Specifically, and most importantly, the bill authorizes much needed additional research and development funding to continue the excellent work done by the Department of Energy and other agencies to foster the responsible commercialization of this industry,” O’Neill said.
Senators Murkowski and Ron Wyden (D-OR) echoed Mr. O’Neill’s calls for increased MHK funding. Both Senators questioned Steven Chalk, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Energy (DOE), on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget proposal for the Water Power Program, expressing disappointment in the proposed program funding. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also stated their support for DOE’s MHK activities.
Senators Murkowski and Wyden noted that while DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy budget overall was proposed for a historic increase in funding, the Water Power program is in line for a twenty percent reduction.
“DOE funding is integral to help MHK companies quicken commercialization efforts,” said Mr. O’Neill following the hearing. “With domestic resources poised to provide ten percent of current U.S. electricity usage, the industry deserves fair support from DOE, rather than a decrease in funding moving forward,” he continued.
Additional panel members who delivered testimony included The Honorable Michael Conner, Commissioner at the Bureau of Reclamation with the U.S. Department of the Interior; Jeff Wright, Director at the Office of Energy Projects with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; John Seebach, Director of the Hydropower Reform Initiative with American Rivers; Andrew Munro, President of the National Hydropower Association; and, Dr. Michael Webber with the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin.
As the Committee moves to mark up the MHK Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011 in the coming weeks, OREC will continue to be a leading voice of support for additional investment in marine renewables technology.
About the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition
The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition is the only national trade association exclusively dedicated to promoting marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies from clean, renewable ocean resources. Founded in April of 2005, the Coalition has grown to over 40 members including technology developers, consultants, law firms, investor-owned utilities, publicly owned utilities, universities, and scientific and engineering firms. The coalition is working with industry leaders, academic scholars, and other interested NGO’s to encourage ocean renewable technologies and raise awareness of their vast potential to help secure an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly energy future.
We seek a legislative and regulatory regime in the United States that fosters the development of ocean renewable technologies, their commercial development, and support in the race to capture the rich energy potential of our oceans. While other countries have already deployed viable, operating, power generating projects using the emission-free power of ocean waves, currents, and tidal forces, the U.S. is only beginning to acknowledge the importance these technologies.