Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
and
Government Regulation
of Ocean Energy
Introduction
Renewable energy technologies provide
alternatives to fossil-fueled power plants for the
generation of electricity, an essential step
towards reducing our nations dependence on
fossil fuels.
Western
coastlines at
these latitudes
experience the
most powerful
waves.
There is uncertainty
relating to which
government agency
has primary permitting
authority over wave
energy technologies
Regulatory Scheme
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize the
Minerals Management Service (MMS) to lease
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) or lands
controlled by the U.S. beyond 3 miles from shore
for alternate energy projects, including wave,
tidal and current technologies.
Preliminary permit
Issued for up to three years
It maintains priority of application for license while the permittee
studies the site and prepares to apply for a license
Does not allow construction at the site
Usually liberally granted by FERC
Approximately 45 preliminary permit applications for ocean
energy projects are pending before FERC
Regulatory Scheme
Licenses
Necessary for construction
In issuing a license, FERC must give equal
consideration to environmental and energy concerns
and be best adapted to a comprehensive plan for
developing a waterway, for protecting fish and wildlife
and for other beneficial uses such as recreation,
irrigation, water supply.
Regulatory Scheme
Changes in the regulatory scheme
On February 15, 2007, FERC published notice in the
Federal Register for a comment period on the standard
of review it should use when considering applications for
preliminary permits to utilize wave, current, and
instream technologies
FERC also suggested its willingness to expedite the
application and approval of licenses for such projects and
extend the exceptions to the licensing requirements. It
announced that a technical conference would be held
about the matter at a later date.
The comment period on its proposal will close on April
30, 2007.
Rhode Island
Energetechs GreenWave Project
Energetech proposed
constructing an OWC similar
to that in Port Kembla off
the coast of Rhode Island
called the GreenWave
project
Analysis has shown the area
to be an ideal location due
to local wave and geological
structure, proximity to the
power grid, and ease of
installation
Rhode Island
Energetechs GreenWave Project
The structure would have a generating capacity
of 500 kW, enough to power 300 homes
The project is not for profit, but to demonstrate
the commercial viability of wave energy
technologies
Energetech intended the device to be
operational in 2006, but the project is currently
caught in the regulatory red tape
Conclusion
There is a large supply of wave energy available
The technology already exists for extraction of
this energy
The technical challenges are solvable
The problems lie in facilitating the testing and
development of the technology to make it more
affordable
Need federal funding
Need a regulatory process conducive for rapid
deployment of prototypes and research equipment