Update: Wave-energy proposal surprises R.I. officials
12:02 PM Thu, Dec 04, 2008 | Permalink
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By Peter B. Lord A company from the state of Washington has surprised local officials by filing an application to construct a vast wave-energy project costing $400 million to $600 million in waters south of Block Island. Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co. has filed a permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to erect 100 structures similar to offshore oil platforms 12 to 25 miles south of Rhode Island. The structures would use wave energy to pump air through turbines to create electricity. The company is proposing to transmit the electricity to Block Island and to the mainland at Jerusalem in the town of Narragansett. The proposal is a surprise because the state is working on a two-year ocean mapping plan with the federal Minerals Management Service, the federal agency that has had jurisdiction over offshore wind farms. But FERC, an agency that traditionally regulates oil and gas projects, announced two weeks ago that it believes it has jurisdiction over all hydroelectric projects on the outer continental shelf. Rhode Island officials see the two federal agencies as jockeying for power over offshore projects, and they are uncertain how that relates to the state's efforts to develop offshore wind projects in an orderly fashion. "This was really just sprung on us and it's too early to know where we stand on it," said Laura Ricketson-Dwyer, spokeswoman for the state's Coastal Resources Management Council. Grays Harbor is making similar proposals in several other states to take advantage of economies of scale. In September, Rhode Island selected Deepwater Wind of New Jersey from seven competitors to develop a $1.5 billion windfarm in coastal waters off Rhode Island. To determine the best sites, the state is studying waters as far south as 20 miles offshore. Most experts don't believe waters in this area create enough energy to make a wave energy project commercially viable, says Grover Fugate, CRMC executive director. That's one reason the Grays Harbor proposal is surprising.
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As planning continues for the development of the Ocean Special Area Management Plan by URI, Coastal Resources Center, RICRMC, RI Sea Grant, and Roger Williams University School of Law, proposals for marine renewable energy projects will certainly be noted.
Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co.'s website indicates that it's also proposing projects in CA, HI, MA, NY, and NJ. The time is now for both federal and state cooperation in marine spatial planning efforts. RI and MA appear to be in the forefront in this effort (Ocean SAMP and MA Ocean Partnership, respectively).
Please note that FERC has regulated hydropower projects from its inception; in fact, it regulated hydro before either oil or gas production. Furthermore, this was not a new announcement on ocean jurisdiction: in 2002, the Commission confirmed that its existing hydropower jurisdiction extended to the ocean.
Megan Higgins, Research Counsel
Marine Affairs Institute
Roger Williams University School of Law
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A bit of basic reporting here might help... The Web Site is a joke, it is full of empty pages and broken links. The company appears to be a one-man band / not a going concern. The address on their letter to FERC is 5534 30 Avenue NE, Seattle WA 98105. Type it into google maps and look at it in street view: it is some guy's small single-story house! Their proposal assures they "assembled a team of companies that are expert in their areas and highly qualified" - but it's a secret team! They justify their secret team by noting, "The Company regards its business partnerships as valuable confidential information." The company is not even registered with the Secretary of State's office in Washington State, which shows no companies with "Ocean Energy" in their name using a basic search: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/
The only thing serious about this proposal or this company is that they fooled someone into writing about it!
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Excellent development. Great news!
Lets help our state lead the nation in alternative energy.
Many high paying jobs are created. The cost of electricity goes down. The air is cleaner.
We all win!
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