The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it will conduct a technical conference Dec. 6 on the status of ocean-based hydroelectric technologies that generate electricity from waves, tides, and currents.
FERC said participants also will explore environmental, financial, and regulatory issues in development of the new technologies.
FERC scheduled the conference from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST Dec. 6, in the Commission Meeting Room on the second floor of the commission’s offices at 888 First St., N.E., Washington, D.C. At least one commissioner is expected to lead the conference.
The Department of Energy recently added ocean-powered projects as an eligible renewable for its Renewable Energy Production Incentives program. (HNN 9/1/06) Earlier this year, FERC considered applications for preliminary permits to study the feasibility of six tidal energy projects in five states totaling 1,700 MW. (HNN 6/19/06)
FERC so far has granted 11 preliminary permits for developers to study the feasibility of developing ocean energy projects in the Atlantic Ocean, California’s San Francisco Bay, New York’s East River, and Washington State’s Puget Sound. Additionally, applications are pending for projects in Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Washington. The state of Rhode Island also is pursuing development of an ocean-powered project. (HNN 9/12/06)
FERC said all interested persons can attend the conference. No fee or registration is required. A free Internet webcast of the event will be available through www.ferc.gov under Calendar of Events. The calendar listing will contain a link to its webcast.
Conference transcripts will be available immediately from Ace Reporting Co., (1) 202-347-3700 or (1) 800-336-6646, for a fee. Transcripts will be available to the public on FERC’s eLibrary system seven days after it receives the transcript.
For information, contact Tim Welch, (1) 202-502-8760, E-mail: [email protected]; or Kristen Murphy, (1) 202-502-6236, E-mail: [email protected].
