Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition

MMS Is No More - Renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement ("Bureau of Ocean Energy" or "BOE"); new head appointed

On June 21, 2010, DOI Secretary Salazar appointed Michael Bromwich head of the newly reorganized Bureau of Ocean Energy, formerly MMS.  Bromwich replaces Elizabeth Birnbaum who departed MMS in the wake of the BP oil spill disaster.  Secretary Salazar also signed Secretarial Order 3302, on June 18, 2010, changing the name of MMS to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement ("Bureau of Ocean Energy" or "BOE")

To view the Secretary's Order renaming MMS as BOE, visit here.



MOU Signed Between Dept. of Interior and Energy

On June 29, 2010, the US Department of Interior and Energy signed an MOU Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to strengthen the relationship between the two agencies on future development of offshore wind and water energy projects on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. 

As described DOE's EERE Website:

Together, DOI and DOE will use this agreement to spur the development of future commercial-scale offshore wind and water energy projects. The wind and water resources off the United States' coasts offer a vast yet largely untapped energy potential. According to DOE's 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report, offshore wind alone has the potential to produce 54,000 megawatts by 2030. The MOU between DOI and DOE will facilitate the development of these domestic energy resources by pursuing priority leasing and efficient regulatory processes for sites with high, commercial-scale offshore wind and water power development potential.

Source:   EERE  (June 29, 2010)


To view the MOU, visit Here


OREC Briefing

On June 24, 2010, OREC conducted a briefing on legislative and regulatory developments affecting the MHK industry.  To hear a recording of the briefing, visit our website here.

Sea Dog Receives Corps Permit

On May 26, 2010, Independent Natural Resources, Inc. (INRIÃ'®), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Renew Blue, Inc. (RBI) announced that it received a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 Permit to install a commercial wave-powered demonstration facility a mile off of Freeport, Texas in the Gulf of Mexico.

From the press release:

"This is the first Section 10 Permit issued to demonstrate a commercial wave energy facility in the history of the United States," said Douglas Sandberg, vice president for INRI.  This comes less than eight months after the company received the first-ever state offshore wave energy lease from the Texas General Land Office for the facility.

Source:  PR Newswire  (May 26, 2010)

University of Rhode Island Receives Funding to Study Direct-Drive Wave Energy Conversion to Power Coastal Buoys

Use of wave power to create electric power for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles AUVs and lit buoys at sea is now becoming popular.    Electro Standards Laboratories in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island Department of Ocean Engineering, under the Center of Excellence in Undersea Technology, has been awarded a $200K Rhode Island Collaborative Research Grant from the Rhode Island Science and Technology Council to further the development of renewable energy direct-drive wave energy conversion devices to power autonomous coastal buoys.

It is anticipated that information gleaned from studying small scale wave power in buoys and underwater vehicles can also be used to further develop large scale wave energy devices.

Source:  Energy Harvesting Journal

Douglas County Receives $45,000 for Wave Energy Feasibility Study

 Douglas County has been awarded $45,000 from a state business development agency to help with its wave energy feasibility study.  Douglas County has been evaluating a potential facility that would be located at a jetty or other location at Winchester Bay.

Source:  NR Today

Finavera Renewables Sells Ocean Energy Division

On Friday, July 3, 2010, Finavera Renewables Inc. (TSX-V: FVR) announced that it is selling its ocean energy division.  The buyer, who has not been disclosed, will acquire the company's AquaBuOY technology, while Finavera will retain an interest in emerging wave technology while focusing on its wind development. 

Great Lakes

Offshore wind is moving forward on the great lakes, with plans for the placement of 5 wind turbines announced by Ohio's governor Ted Strickland.  The pilot project is the result of a partnership between the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation and General Electric.

Source:  Green Matters July 3, 2010

Rhode Island

Deepwater Wind and the utility, National Grid have revised the proposed power purchase agreement for Deepwater's 8 turbine, 20 MW offshore wind project, to be sited off the coast of Rhode Island.  It is anticipated that the $205 million project will pave the way for a second phase, a 106 turbine project.

In April, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had rejected the proposed PPA, since the 24.4 cents/kwh price for power was viewed as too costly for ratepayers.  The legislature passed a new law to override the PUC's decision, calling for a new PPA with a price capped at 24.4 cents.  At 23.5cents/kwh, the Deepwater-National Grid PPA falls below the legislature's cap and thus, is expected to win approval when it returns for review before the PUC.


Source: Brightenergy.org(July 2, 2010).

Cape Wind

The first suits challenging the Cape Wind project have started, with the Town of Barnstable filing one of three suits challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement's (formerly MMS) decision to issue a lass for the project.  The Town challenged the Bureau's failure to closely consider issues related to impacts associated with air traffic.  Also filing suit June 25 were the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound with 17 additional plaintiffs, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), with eight other plaintiffs, including the Alliance and Three Bays Preservation Trust.

Source:  Barnstable Patriot (July 2, 2010).

LIPA Back in the Offshore Wind Game

Several years ago, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) proposed the nation's second offshore wind farm, closely on the heels of Cape Wind.   When costs of the project exceeded initial projections, the project went into dormancy - but now, LIPA is applying to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOE), formerly known as the Minerals Management Service (MMS), for a 25-year lease on 64,500 acres of land beneath the Atlantic Ocean about 13 to 15 miles off the Long Island coast.

Source:  Reuters (June 30, 2010).

New Jersey Passes Energy Legislation to Power Offshore Wind

On July 1, 2010, New Jersey passed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act would establish an offshore wind renewable energy certificate (REC) program and authorize the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide up to $100 million in tax credits for wind energy facilities.
The bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to develop an offshore wind REC program to require that a percentage of electricity sold in the state be from offshore wind energy. This percentage would be developed to support at least 1,100 MW of generation from qualified offshore wind projects.

Source:  SustainableBusiness.com  (July 1, 2010).

New Jersey Star Ledger Profiles Ocean Power Technologies

OREC Member, Ocean Power Technologies and its founder, Dr. George Taylor are the subject of a profile piece in the New Jersey Star Ledger.  The article discusses OPT's involvement in a variety of projects both in the United States and around the world.

Source:  New Jersey Star Ledger (July 4, 2010)