Northwest Public Power Association and Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition have formed a strategic alliance to connect providers of ocean-based renewable technology with electric utilities interested in pursuing the energy source.
�We’re looking forward to working with the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition to provide our utility members with information about and resources for this rapidly evolving source of energy,� NWPPA Executive Director Will Lutgen said.
OREC President Sean O’Neill said the alliance should help facilitate and strengthen relationships between providers of ocean technology and electric utilities wanting to develop a reliable, affordable, clean generation portfolio.
Announcing creation of the alliance, the organizations also said they would discuss federal legislation supporting development of ocean renewables. About 40 preliminary permit applications for ocean projects were before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at the end of 2006, all of which were filed since March 2006. (HNN 12/8/06)
NWPPA represents customer-owned, locally controlled utilities in the western U.S. and Canada. It also serves more than 250 associate members across the U.S. and Canada allied with the electric utility industry. OREC is a trade association that promotes energy technologies from ocean resources.
The alliance provides NWPPA member utilities a 20 percent discount on OREC annual dues. NWPPA also is offering a 20 percent discount to OREC members who qualify as new NWPPA associate members. Both discounts will be honored for 2007. For membership information, contact Dave Bouchard at NWPPA, (1) 360-254-0109, www.nwppa.org, or O’Neill at OREC, (1) 301-869-3790, www.oceanrenewable.com.
