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NRG Bluewater Wind won the exclusive rights to negotiate with the federal government to build an offshore wind farm off the Delaware coast on March 24, 2011. As the first developer to enter into the “Smart from the Start” program released by the BOEMRE on February 7, 2011, NRG Bluewater Wind signed a non-competitive lease agreement…

On October 28, 2010, Pacific Gas & Electric ("PG&E") announced that it was suspending development of its Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project (FERC Docket No. P-12779) off of the Northern California coast.  The company stated that "several major challenges made the project unviable at its current location and configuation."  However, "PG&E remains committed to [wave energy] technology." 

In fact…

On Monday, July 19, 2010, the White House Council on Environmental Quality ("CEQ") issued the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force.  The Final Recommendations are the culmination of a process that began on June 12, 2009 when President Obama formed the Task Force and tasked it with developing recommendations to enhance…

President Obama has issued a memorandum calling for the creation of a temporary Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a unifying framework for responsible development and ecosystem management for the nation’s oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes. Specifically, within 90 days the Task…

Rhode Island has introduced legislation to encourage offshore wind development.  Under the draft bill, the state’s largest electricity supplier, National Grid, would be required to purchase the energy output from an offshore wind project proposed by the state’s selected preferred offshore wind developer, Deepwater Wind.  National Grid has said that it supports the proposal…

Today, Department of Interior Secretary Salazar and FERC Chairman Wellinghoff signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) clarifying each agency’s jurisdictional responsibilities for siting renewable energy on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The MOA should clear the way for wind, wave, tidal, ocean current, and solar energy projects on the OCS. My colleagues, including Cherise Oram…

The U.S. Department of Interior recently published a report highlighting the information currently available regarding the nature and scope of energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), including renewable energy.  The report is a result of the new administration’s approach to developing energy resources on the OCS, and will serve as background information for…

In Spring 2008, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission opened a docket and created an external Study Group to complete a study to assist with examining the technical feasibility, economic potential, environmental impacts, and legal requirements associated with developing wind energy on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.  Last Friday, the Study Group released its draft report, with the…