Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition was present at the House Committee On Natural Resources, Full Committee Oversight Hearing on “Offshore Energy: Interior Department’s Plans for Offshore Energy, Revenue, and Safety Reorganization” on July 15th.
Discussed at the hearing was the reorganization of BOEMRE after taking over for the Minerals Management Service (MMS). The hearing reviewed what issues needed to be addressed to make improvements as well as potential legislation to make the necessary changes. The Interior Department will finish its schedule for reorganization of MMS by October 1, 2011.
The Honorable Doc Hastings, Committee Chairman, highlighted four points in his opening statement that he believes are necessary in the reform of the Interior Department’s offshore energy agencies. The first being to improve safety of, second to increase government accountability, third to run efficiently, and last to ensure the highest ethical standards.
The Honorable Michael R. Bromwich gave the first testimony. Bromwich is the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE). Bromwich discussed the reorganization of the MMS, changes in the regulation of oil and gas drilling and development on the Outer Continental Shelf. Bromwich’s full testimony can be found here http://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BromwichTestimony07.15.11.pdf
Following the Honorable Michael R. Bromwich in the second panel was Gregory J. Gould, Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue. Gould was brought to the committee to discuss the reorganization of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR). Gould discussed the ONRR’s strategic review and the closure of the RIK program. Gould’s full testimony can be found here http://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/GouldTestimony07.15.11.pdf
The United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources met on July 14th to discuss and vote on various bills. The bills ranged from energy policy to public land and water issues. The Mark-Up resulted in the reporting of 23 bills, 17 of which included public land and water bills.
The bills that are of importance to OREC are as follows:
S.1000 “ To promote energy savings in residential and commercial building and industry. Ordered reported, as amended, by an 18-3 vote.”
S.1001 “To reduce oil consumption and improve energy security. Ordered reported as amended, by a 12-10 vote.”
S.____ “An original bill as amended on May 26 to promote the domestic development and deployment of clean energy technology. Ordered reported, as amended, by voice vote.”
The three bills are a step in the right direction for renewable energy and the MHK industry. Being present at the hearing it was hard not to recognize the bipartisanship on the issue of sustaining our environment. For the full list of the 23 bills visit http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=013f7b9b-10a7-41a1-9081-2ec53a07d79e&Month=7&Year=2011&Party=0.
The U.S. Department of Energy held an Offshore Renewable Energy conference on June 23rd and 24th. It was a public meeting on information needs for resource assessment and design conditions. The purpose of the meeting was the focus on the critical and meteorological and oceanographic measurements and data needed to guarantee successful deployment of offshore renewables.
The conference combined experts from industry, academia and government from all over the nation to identify challenges and gaps to offshore renewables. By identifying such gaps and challenges the basis will be made for the Offshore Renewable Energy Needs Assessment and Strategic Action Plan Guide which will further investment and deployment of offshore renewables.
The U.S. Department of Energy held an Offshore Renewable Energy conference on June 23rd and 24th. It was a public meeting on information needs for resource assessment and design conditions. The purpose of the meeting was the focus on the critical and meteorological and oceanographic measurements and data needed to guarantee successful deployment of offshore renewables.
The conference combined experts from industry, academia and government from all over the nation to identify challenges and gaps to offshore renewables. ( insert link to power point here) By identifying such gaps and challenges the basis will be made for the Offshore Renewable Energy Needs Assessment and Strategic Action Plan Guide which will further investment and deployment of offshore renewables.
Hi all! This is Deborah Yi, and I am happy to be a new summer intern here at Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition.
I am a rising senior at American University in Washington DC, where I study Public Communication and Business Administration. I write for our school newspaper, The Eagle, and I serve as Public Relations Chair in the Asian Student Alliance at AU.
I have recently gotten back from a study abroad in Madrid, Spain which was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life. I took mostly business classes at one of the top universities in Spain where I met other wonderful and fascinating people. In between my studies at the Pontifical University Comillas, I had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and even Africa. I have visited Italy, Greece, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, England, and Morocco. I had a great time traveling, learning new languages, eating great food, and seeing the world for five months, but I’m happy to be back in the States and happier still to be working with OREC.
Before I came to OREC, I had an internship with a non-profit organization in Georgia. I learned so much and got very involved that I wanted my next internship to support a cause that I believed in which, in this case, would be renewable energy.
I firmly believe that renewable energy can play an important role in the way Americans will use power. I am excited to be a new addition to the coalition and another agent of awareness to the MHK industry.
Until next time,
Deb
It takes a coalition to build public support for marine renewables. Join the community!
Dr. Annette von Jouanne has been a professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University since 1995. Professor von Jouanne specializes in Energy Systems, including power electronics and power systems. With a passion for renewables, she is leading the Wave Energy program at OSU along with Dr. Ted Brekken.
Dr. Ted Brekken is an assistant professor in Energy Systems in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at Oregon State University. His research interests include control of renewable energy technology.
What changes have you noticed in the industry since the time that you began working in the field until now?
There is an ever-increasing awareness of the importance of renewable energy among students and the public.
What in your view are the greatest challenges to marine renewables at this time?
Permitting, economic support, and survivability.
The permitting process is still in flux, but should improve in clarity and brevity. It is important for marine renewables to receive financial benefits in the early years, including increased funding for research and development, as well as something similar to the PTC for wind or the Price-Anderson Act for nuclear. Lastly, the marine environment presents many survivability challenges. This will be reflected in the cost of energy.
What, if anything, makes the marine renewables industry different from other industries that you’ve worked with?
The industry is young and much fundamental work is yet to be done. The technology has not yet crystallized into a dominant paradigm; there are still many ideas of great diversity with no superior solutions yet established.
What do you find most exciting about the marine renewables industry?
Also see response to question 4. The opportunity to involve students in groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research that can have a positive impact on our energy future.
What, in your opinion, are the top two to three developments needed to bring marine renewables to commercialization?
Streamlined permitting, research funding opportunities and financial incentives, and improved device survivability.
What are your predictions for the marine renewables industry over the next 3-5 years?
Rapid growth and a period of strong sensitivity to failures and successes. If the industry can make it through this period, it will likely become robust and established.
Keith Martin is a project finance and tax lawyer with Chadbourne & Parke LLP. Chadbourne has worked on power projects in more than 60 countries and is a franchise name in the business. Martin worked during 2007 for 171 companies on projects in the United States and eight foreign countries. He advises several marine renewable companies and is a member of both the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition and the Ocean Energy Council.
What changes have you noticed in the industry since the time that you began working in the field until now?
My first ocean energy project was an ocean thermal project in Hawaii in the early 1980′s. Ocean energy projects then largely disappeared and there was not much activity, at least involving large law firms, until the resurgence of interest in renewables in the last few years. I have noticed growing attendance at ocean energy conferences. The industry is still in a venture capital stage, but should emerge soon once some of the newer technologies have proven they can work on a commercial scale.
What in your view are the greatest challenges to marine renewables at this time?
The greatest challenges are to prove that the technologies work on a commercial scale – which is key to arranging project financing – and to persuade Congress that ocean energy should be given the same support that other renewables receive. The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition has been doing terrific job on the latter challenge. Individual companies are hard at work on the first.
What, if anything, makes the marine renewables industry different from other industries that you’ve worked with?
Marine renewables companies face the same challenges as other segments of the independent power industry; they are at the front end of the process. They must prove their technologies work on a commercial scale and then lock down costs and revenue streams for individual projects so that they can obtain project financing. Other wind, solar, biomass and fuel cell companies also went through, or are still moving through the same cycle.
What do you find most exciting about the marine renewables industry?
What’s most exciting to me is to see some very capable veterans of the independent power business move into marine renewables. I have no doubt the industry will succeed with such capable people behind it.
What, in your opinion, are the top two to three developments needed to bring marine renewables to commercialization?
First, the industry needs more venture capital, then tax credits and more generous depreciation allowances on a par with those received by other segments of the renewable energy industry. There also needs to be parity with other renewables in the renewable portfolio standards at the state level. It would also help if the federal loan guarantee program were truly to get off the ground with the government taking the “first loss” position on new technologies.
What are your predictions for the marine renewables industry over the next 3-5 years?
The industry should begin to move out the venture capital stage by the end of that period.
Head of Wavebob Ltd’s US office, Derek Robertson carries degrees in engineering and business, as well as service in the US Navy. While residing in Ireland, he spent 3 years as an R&D program manager for the Irish government, promoting the development of renewable energy resources and improved energy performance in buildings. Before joining Wavebob Ltd in 2008, Mr. Robertson worked as a consultant supporting major defense acquisition programs for the US government.
What changes have you noticed in the industry since the time that you began working in the field until now?
I suppose one of the most significant changes to affect the industry in the past 5-10 years is the increased public and political awareness of the impact of climate change. There is certainly a greater sense of urgency relating to the research and development of alternative forms of energy, which has given the ocean energy industry more leverage in terms of sourcing both Government and private sector funding. National governments are increasingly aware of both the potential of this sector and of the need to develop clear policy and support mechanisms. As a result, we’ve seen some important changes that favor development. Technology has improved, leading to more mature and robust solutions to wave energy conversion. The success of the Wavebob device is a perfect example of how imaginative solutions, coupled with years of methodical, expert research are now producing very exciting results. Overall, market conditions are very encouraging with high energy prices and an increasing commitment among local governments and energy companies to include marine renewables in their portfolio.
What in your view are the greatest challenges to marine renewables at this time?
The regulatory environment is undoubtedly the greatest source of risk and uncertainty. Without a streamlined permitting process and clear lines of jurisdiction among interested parties, it’s extremely difficult to plan or finance commercial projects.
What, if anything, makes the marine renewables industry different from other industries that you’ve worked with?
Right now the industry is undergoing a welcome shift from technology demonstration to commercial development. Worldwide, we are one of only a handful of companies to have successfully harnessed wave power at sea. It’s enormously exciting to be working for a company with not only great commercial prospects, but one who can help bring about significant environmental benefits to the electricity industry.
What do you find most exciting about the marine renewables industry?
While other renewable sectors have long boasted of their great potential, marine renewables are uniquely posed to make a significant impact within a relatively short timeframe. There is a developing momentum within the industry at the moment, particularly surrounding the commercialization of wave energy. Given my own particular background and interests, the marine environment is always a welcome place to work.
What, in your opinion, are the top two to three developments needed to bring marine renewables to commercialization?
1) An improved regulatory environment with a streamlined permitting process tailored to marine renewables.
2) Leadership from national and local governments to sponsor development of infrastructure required to support marine renewables. Government bodies are best able to meet challenges that arise from their own regulatory structures. Projects like Wavehub (UK) offer marine technology providers easy access to electricity markets, as would be enjoyed by other generators.
3) Tax credits and/or feed-in tariffs that help to offset the harmful subsidies provided to other sources of energy to include fossil fuels and bio-fuels.
What are your predictions for the marine renewables industry over the next 3-5 years?
We should see development of the first commercial wave farms in both Europe and North America.
Cofounder & president of Verdant Power, Trey Taylor served on Boards of the Hydro Research Foundation, National Hydropower Association, and Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition. He has worked for Procter & Gamble, ITT Corporation, British Telecom, and Edison Electric Institute; and has consulted for Baltimore Gas & Electric and Price Waterhouse World Utilities Group.
What changes have you noticed in the industry since the time that you began working in the field until now?
The greatest changes that I have noticed are an overall consciousness raising and acceptance of kinetic hydropower technology’s capabilities for harvesting a huge marine renewables global potential.
What in your view are the greatest challenges to marine renewables at this time?
The greatest challenges are to demonstrate that kinetic hydropower technologies are commercially viable and to streamline regulatory processes that slow down those demonstrations, consequently adding to the costs.
What, if anything, makes the marine renewables industry different from other industries that you’ve worked with?
It is an embryonic industry.
What do you find most exciting about the marine renewables industry?
It has the potential to revolutionize energy generation, helping develop de-centralized power and sustainable communities.
What, in your opinion, are the top two to three developments needed to bring marine renewables to commercialization?
The three top developmental needs are: 1) funding and financing (i.e., government and private); 2) government will (e.g., economic incentives, renewable energy mandates, streamlined regulations); and 3) electric utility industry support (e.g., greater acceptance of distributed generation).
What are your predictions for the marine renewables industry over the next 3-5 years?
In the next five years, there will be at least four commercial projects with an installed capacity of more than 200 MW operating in tidal waters, rivers, and constructed waterways around the world. The exponential growth after 2012 will be staggering, because the estimated global potential for marine renewables is more than 250,000 MW of installed capacity.
