OREC Comments in Response to Pres. Obama’s Ocean Management Task Force
September 11, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant
Filed under Blog, OREC Newsroom
On September 10, 2009, the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition filed comments on a framework for ocean policy coordination and marine spatial planning in response to President Obama’s Ocean Management Task Force. Comments can be viewed here . OREC continues to participate in Task Force meetings and offer our input on proposed ocean management initiatives based on our members’ experience.
MREC 1st Annual Technical Conference
August 14, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant
Filed under Blog, OREC Newsroom
New England Marine Renewable Energy Center hosts
MREC 1st Annual Technical Conference
October 15, 2009
Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center
Fall River, MA, USA
Come and hear about the latest advances in marine renewable energy and enjoy the fall colors of New England.
Sessions will address research and technology development in the following areas:
- Ocean Wave Energy Conversion Devices
- Tidal In Stream Conversion Devices
- Offshore Wind Generation Systems and Platform Design
Click Here for Complete Information.
2nd Annual Ocean Energy for New England Conference
August 14, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant
Filed under Blog, OREC Newsroom
New England Marine Renewable Energy Center hosts
2nd Annual Ocean Energy for New England Conference
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Cape Codder Resort
1225 Iyannough Rd.
Hyannis, MA 02601
8AM - 1:30 PM
Click here for Complete Information.
Check www.mrec.umassd.edu for updates and registration.
Guidelines for MMS Renewable Energy Framework
August 4, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant
Filed under Blog, Regulation Watch

MMS has just posted guidelines that provide details of the types of information required in making application for interim and commercial leases on the OCS and also for implementation of the MOU between MMS and FERC.
From the issuance:
These guidelines will evolve and will be revised and updated as necessary as we implement the OCS renewable energy program. Also, as we gain experience with renewable energy development on the OCS, we may update our regulations to include energy-resource-specific provisions. These guidelines do not change the letter or intent of the REAU regulations.
You can view the regulations here -REN Guidebook August 2009
Stimulus Program for Renewable Energy Projects Up and Running
July 10, 2009 by Carolyn Elefant
Filed under Blog, OREC Newsroom
As you may recall, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Bill), described in this earlier post included a variety of benefits for marine renewables developers, including the option to elect between tax credits (either a production tax credit or investment tax credit) and a cash grant. The Department of Energy and Treasury have now announced that the program is up and running, and that applications will be accepted.
The program is for renewable energy projects that are under construction or that will soon be built. Specifically, Section 1603 of the Act’s tax title, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act, appropriates funds for payments to persons who place in service specified energy property during 2009 or 2010 or after 2010 if construction began on the property during 2009 or 2010 and the property is placed in service by a certain date known as the credit termination date. The program will therefore potentially benefit those marine renewables projects where construction will begin between 2009 and 2010 and be completed by 2014, the applicable credit termination date for marine renewables.
For further guidance about the program, please review the following resources at our new Stimulus/Grants Resource Page.

