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OREC Newsletter for July 8, 2010
Sent Thursday, July 8, 2010
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_July 8, 2010_
_LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY NEWS_
_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
[2]here.
Links:
2.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_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:
[3]EERE (June 29, 2010)
Links:
3.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
To view the MOU, visit
[4] [5]Here
Links:
4.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/mou_offshore_wind_hydrokinetic_deployment.pdf
5.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_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
[6]here.
_________________________________________________________________
Links:
6.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_Marine & Hydrokinetic News_
_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:
[7]PR Newswire (May 26, 2010)
Links:
7.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_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:
[8]Energy Harvesting Journal
Links:
8.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_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:
[9]NR Today
Links:
9.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_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.
Source: [10]Bivinteractive.com (July 5, 2010).
Links:
10.
http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=35872
_Scottish Government awards over Ã'£3 million to Aquamarine Power_
Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power was awarded over Ã'£3 million
from the
Scottish Government today to support the development of its
next-generation
Oyster wave energy device.
To read the full story, please [11]click here
Links:
11.
http://www.aquamarinepower.com/news-and-events/news/latest-news/view/147/aquamarine-power-secures-over-3m-scottish-government-funding
Currents of Change
Local experts rely on teamwork and patience to bring tidal power to
the
Northwest.
Read the entire article by Amelia Apfel by [12]clicking here.
(July 2010)
_________________________________________________________________
Links:
12. http://seattlebusinessmag.com/article/currents-change
_OFFSHORE WIND_
_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:
[13]Green Matters July 3, 2010
Links:
13.
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/fresh-water-wind-farm-producing-clean
_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:
[14]Brightenergy.org(July 2, 2010).
Links:
14.
http://www.brighterenergy.org/13234/news/wind/fresh-power-deal-for-205m-rhode-island-offshore-wind-farm
_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:
[15]Barnstable Patriot (July 2, 2010).
Links:
15.
http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21547&Itemid=30
_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:
[16]Reuters (June 30, 2010).
Links:
16. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65T4TH20100630
_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:
[17]SustainableBusiness.com (July 1, 2010).
_________________________________________________________________
Links:
17.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/20606
_MEMBER NEWS:_
_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:
[18]New Jersey Star Ledger (July 4, 2010)
Links:
18.
http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/07/pennington_firm_a_pioneer_in_u.html