Navigating the Rough Waters of Ocean Energy Regulation

I guess you've never experienced any unintended consequences. While I agree permitting should be as simple as possible, I think there should be a reasonable amount of thought put into any large scale project!

In offshore oil and gas, the potential or risk of oil spills isn't really what drives the permitting process. The facilities just have to be designed with API, ASME, etc. standards/recommended practicies applied to reduce the possibility of oil spills.

In the Gulf MMS is concerned about the impact on marine mammals, and organisms around thermal vents in the ocean floor. I'd say their primary concern is about the actual plans for developing the resources, construction plans, emissions from motors, safety systems, safety and living accomodations for personnel, and other non-environmental issues. Coast Guard is concerned about safety any time floating facilities are used. Corps of Engineers is concerned about beach-heads for pipelines/etc.

In short, oil spills aren't the reason for the intense permitting process. As a result, whether you're discussing wind turbines fixed to the ocean floor, or tidal systems suspended from the ocean floor . . . most of the permitting concerns are the same for RE projects as they are for oil and gas (absent the concern for personnel living on site).

Great podcast by the way . . .

One omission on my part . . . Oil and gas and open loop LNG regasification facilities both probably have produced and/or discharged water permitting to deal with. I'm guessing that EPA and/or DEQ get involved in this portion. This is a complex issue, but as discussed in the podcast, there is such a knowledge base on these issues in the Gulf of Mexico that there are generally accepted standardized practices that take most of the guess-work out of the process.