| Alternative Energy on the Outer Continental Shelf |
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The Department of Interior's Material Management Service is proposing a rule for leasing portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for development of alternative energy projects such as wind farms, wave energy, and ocean current energy. There are several public workshops being given around the country in August to help explain the new rule. The closest workshop to Charleston will be in Savannah, GA , on August 28.
Offshore Alternative Energy Programs Minerals Management Service
Draft Proposed Rule for Developing Outer Continental Shelf Alternative Energy Resources (Offshore Wind, Wave, and Ocean Current)
Savannah, GA Marriott Savannah Riverfront Room Name: Oglethorpe 100 General McIntosh Blvd. Savannah, GA 31401 Ph: 912-233-7722 Public Workshop: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
From all appearances, this rule will provide a competitive process for obtaining leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, and only Alternative Energy Projects (i.e., not oil or natural gas drilling) will be considered. Several steps will be included in the proces, including submission of plans for the lease and environmental and safety assessments. In addition, nearby State governments will need to be compensated for use of the site. This appears to be a wonderful opportunity for the community to weigh in on the proposed rule and for entrepreneurs to learn what is involved in obtaining a lease. I encourage all who are interested to attend. I would also like to point out that these public workshops do not appear to be widely publicized, for whatever reason. I hope that all readers will consider who else might be interested and pass along information on these workshops. It is time for aggressive development of alternative energy projects to help our society make the switch from polluting, climate changing energy resources to more sustainable energy collection activities. Following is the original announcement from the Minerals Management Service:
Public Workshops
Offshore Alternative Energy Programs Minerals Management Service
Draft Proposed Rule for Developing Outer Continental Shelf Alternative Energy Resources (Offshore Wind, Wave, and Ocean Current)
The MMS Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs is holding public workshops to provide an overview of proposed Federal regulations to establish a program for alternative energy project activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and for previously unauthorized activities involving the alternate use of existing OCS facilities. The proposed rule would also establish methods for sharing revenues generated by this program with nearby States. The purpose of the workshops is to provide the public with an informal forum to discuss the draft regulations. Questions that stakeholders would like to have addressed during the workshops, or requests for special needs at the workshop, may be sent to MMS in advance via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
August 7, 2008 (Thursday)
Washington, DC Main Interior Building Sidney Yates Auditorium 1849 C St. NW Washington, DC 20240 Ph: 703-787-1300 Public Workshop: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. --------------
August 13, 2008 (Wednesday)
Seattle, WA Doubletree Hotel, Seattle Airport Room name: Cascade 3-4 18740 International Blvd. Seattle, WA 98188 Ph: 206-246-8600 Public Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. --------------
August 14, 2008 (Thursday)
Portland, OR Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland - Lloyd Center Room name: Oregon 1000 NE Multnomah St. Portland, OR 97232 Ph: 503-281-6111 Public Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. --------------
August 15, 2008 (Friday)
San Francisco, CA The Presidio Officers' Club Room Name: Arguello Ball Room 50 Moraga Ave. San Francisco, CA 94129 Ph: 415-561-5447 Public Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. --------------
August 19, 2008 (Tuesday)
Boston/Newton, MA Marriott Boston Newton Room Name: Grand Ballroom Salons A & B 2345 Commonwealth Ave. Newton, MA 02466 Ph: 617-969-1000 Public Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. --------------
August 20, 2008 (Wednesday) Monmouth, NJ Monmouth University Bey Hall Room Name: Young Auditorium 400 Cedar Ave. West Long Branch, NJ 07764 Ph: 732-571-3400 Public Workshop: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. --------------
August 26, 2008 (Tuesday)
New Orleans, LA Minerals Management Service Room 111 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 Ph: 703-787-1300 Public Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. --------------
August 27, 2008 (Wednesday) Fort Lauderdale, FL Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Room Name: Marlin & Manatee 400 Gulf Stream Way Dania Beach, FL 33004 Ph: 954-342-8333 Public Workshop: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. --------------
August 28, 2008 (Thursday) Savannah, GA Marriott Savannah Riverfront Room Name: Oglethorpe 100 General McIntosh Blvd. Savannah, GA 31401 Ph: 912-233-7722 Public Workshop: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. -------------- Although formal comments will not be accepted at the workshops, the MMS encourages the public to submit comments through the Federal online comment system at www.regulations.gov. To download the rule, go to http://www.mms.gov/offshore/AlternativeEnergy/RegulatoryInformation.htm. To submit comments go to www.regulations.gov and type in "MMS Alternative Energy Proposed Rule" in the comment tab search box. Under the "Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Proposed Rule" listing (document: MMS-2008-OMM-0012-0001), click on "submit a comment" and follow instructions. The public may also submit comments by mail or hand-carry comments to: Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service Attn: Regulations and Standards Branch 381 Elden Street, MS 4024 Herndon, Virginia 20170
Comments on the proposed regulation are due to MMS on September 8, 2008 For additional information regarding the workshops, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For additional information regarding the proposed regulation, please call 703.787.1300.
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