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
outer continental shelf
DOI/DOE MOU for Offshore Renewable Energy Projects
By Janet Jacobs on
Posted in Ocean/Wave Energy, Wind
Yesterday, the Department of the Interior (“DOI”) and the Department of Energy (“DOE”) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to bring together resources and expertise from both agencies as the US develops commercial-scale offshore wind and water energy projects on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The…
Maryland Jumps Into Offshore Wind
By Katherine A. Roek on
Posted in Wind
The Maryland Energy Administration has issued a Request for Expression of Information and Interest to gather information from industry representatives on the potential for offshore wind development in the state. The MEA is also simultaneously initiating a study to evaluate opportunities for offshore wind energy on the Maryland coast (state waters) and the Outer Continental…
Interior Issues Limited Leases for Offshore Wind Projects
By Katherine A. Roek on
Posted in Wind
On June 23, 2009, the Minerals Management Service, a division within the U.S. Department of Interior, issued five limited leases to offshore wind energy developers for wind data collection on the Outer Continental Shelf. These leases will allow for the construction of meteorological towers to collect site-specific data on wind speed, intensity, and direction. The data collected under…
Client Alert: Summary of Final MMS Regulations on OCS Leasing
By Katherine A. Roek on
Posted in Ocean/Wave Energy, Wind
As promised in a recent blog entry, we’ve issued a client alert providing a detailed analysis of the final Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulations governing leases for energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), including wind and ocean energy. Please contact us with any questions!
MMS Finalizes Regulations for Renewable Energy Projects on the OCS
By Katherine A. Roek on
Posted in Ocean/Wave Energy, Wind
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has issued its final regulations for renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Stoel Rives attorneys are reviewing the 579-page rule now and will provide further updates soon!
FERC and MMS Reach Agreement on Offshore Renewable Energy
By Katherine A. Roek on
Posted in Ocean/Wave Energy
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…
Interior Highlights Opportunities for Renewable Energy Development on OCS
By Katherine A. Roek on
Posted in Wind
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…
Interior and FERC reach agreement on Outer Continental Shelf hydrokinetic projects; Secretary Salazar announces regional meeting details
By Dina Dubson on
From our colleague Cherise Oram:
Secretary of Interior (DOI) Ken Salazar and Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Jon Wellinghoff have announced an agreement describing how the two agencies will work together to facilitate permitting renewable energy – particularly ocean wave and current projects – on the outer continental shelf (OCS).