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During the past six months the Non-governmental Organizations (NGO’s) that advocate the development of ocean energy have taken the offensive in the United States. These include the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the National Hydropower Association (NHA), the Ocean Energy Council (OEC), and the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition (OREC).
(Links for these organizations are at the end of this message.)
Below is a chronological review of their most significant activities:
[Further details regarding each of these activities are available upon request from the OEC. See below for how to obtain these details.]
October 23-25, 2006:
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OCEAN ENERGY (1)
Bremerhaven, Germany
Representatives from 17 countries attended this international meeting. The U.S. was represented by Richard Meyer, President of the Ocean Energy Council, Alla Weinstein, President of Aqua Energy (now Finavera Renewables) and several others. Most of the attendees were from European countries, where renewable energy – including ocean energy –is far more advanced than in the U.S.
November 30, 2006:
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY (ACORE) : Phase II of Renewable Energy in America: Market Forecasts and Policy Requirements (2)
Washington, D.C.
Keynote speakers included Alexander Karsner, US Assistant Secretary of Energy, Senator Byron Dorgan, Dan Arvizu, head of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pat Wood, former Chairman of FERC, and Thomas Friedman, columnist at the New York Times. Attendance was standing room only, with all of the renewable energy technologies represented. An illustrated overview of ocean energy was provided by Richard Meyer, President of the Ocean Energy Council.
December 4, 2006:
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN OCEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY (3)
SeaTech / Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Dania Beach, Florida
FAU recently won a $5.75 million grant from the state of Florida for a Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy, one of four winners out of 32 applications. The President of FAU, Frank Brogan, spoke followed by Rick Driscoll giving a presentation on ocean energy. In attendance were Richard Meyer of the OEC, and Richard Hammer of Continental Shelf Associates, the parent company of Technology Systems Corporation which puts on the annual Energy Ocean Conferences.
December 6, 2006:
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC): Techincal Conference on Hydroelectric Power Generation in the Ocean and Free-Flowing Rivers (4)
Washington, D.C.
This nationally-televised FERC meeting included presentations by George Hagerman, of both the OEC and OREC, Alla Weinstein of AquaEnergy (now Finavera), Dr. George Taylor of Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), and Des McGinnes, of Ocean Power Delivery (OPD).
January 7, 2007:
ACORE PUBLISHES “The Outlook on Renewable Energy in America” (5)Washington, D.C.
This 64-page book covers all of the renewable energy technologies. An illustrated, color condensation of the presentation given by Richard Meyer of the OEC in November is included.
March 15-18, 2007:
NATIONAL HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION (NHA): 2007 ANNUAL CONFERENCE (6)
Washington, D.C.
Linda Church Ciocci, NHA’s Executive Director, gave a presentation entitled: “Hydropower: The Power of Moving Water” in which she pointed out the potential of not only conventional hydropower, but also the various technologies that extract energy from the oceans.
April 2, 2007:
DR. ROBERT COHEN MEETS WITH REP. MARK UDALL (7)
Westminster, CO
Dr. Robert Cohen, former Project Manager of the Ocean Systems Division of the Department of Energy (DOE), and a Board Member of the OEC, presented Rep. Udall with: “The Case for Reactivating the DOE Ocean Energy R&D Program”. Udall is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Science and Technology and the House Natural Resources Committee.
April 24, 2007:
JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE OVERSIGHT HEARING: “Renewable Energy Opportunities and Issues on the Outer Continental Shelf” (8)
Both Sean O’Neill, President of OREC, and George Hagerman, a member of the boards of both OREC and the OEC, gave testimony at this hearing.
May 1, 2007:
“NEWSMAKERS AT NOON”: PRESENTATION OF FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY’S (FAU) OCEAN ENERGY PROJECTS. (9)
Washington, D.C.
Both Manhar Dhanak, Chair of Ocean Engineering, and Director of Seatech, FAU and Rick Driscoll, Head of the Ocean Energy Team at FAU gave presentations on their ocean energy projects. (See (3), above.)
May 1, 2007:
ACORE’S JOINT OUTLOOK REPORT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE U.S. (10)
Washington, D.C.
George Hagerman, representing the OEC, provided an overview of the potential and current activities in ocean energy in the United States.
May 9, 2007:
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (ASME) SPONSORS A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING: “Harvesting Ocean Power: An International Perspective” (11)
Washington, D.C.
Max Carcas, representing Ocean Power Delivery (OPD) of Edinburgh, Scotland, reviewed the first commercial wave farm project now operating off the coast of Portugal.
May 14-18, 2007:
DR. ROBERT COHEN HOLDS TWELVE MEETINGS WITH ENERGY STAFFERS AND TWO CONGRESSMEN ADVOCATING OCEAN ENERGY (12)
Washington, D.C.
As former Project Manager for Ocean Systems for DOE, and Board Member of the OEC, Dr.Cohen also met with Sean O’Neill, President of OREC and George Hagerman, Board Member of both OREC and the OEC, Lockheed’s OTEC “point person”, and others.
May 17, 2007:
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT (13)
Sean O’Neill, President of OREC, provided testimony at this Hearing on “Developing Untapped Potential: Geothermal and Ocean Power Technologies”. Also providing testimony was Annette von Jouanne, professor of power electronics and energy systems at Oregon State University(OSU), and an advocate of wave energy.
NOTE: The above is not represented as a complete review of all of the activities of ACORE, NHA, OEC and OREC promoting ocean energy. All of these NGO’s spend a great deal of time, effort and money in advocating the development and implementation of renewable ocean energy. OREC, in particular, works with federal agencies on regulations and licensing of ocean energy facilities. Carolyn Elefant, a principal of OREC, specializes in this area. And OREC does the lion’s share of lobbying in Washington, D.C. for ocean energy.
All of these organizations work together and towards the same goals.
They all need and deserve your support.
ACORE’s WEBSITE AND CONTACT NUMBERS: www.acore.org
NHA’ s WEBSITE AND CONTACT NUMBERS: www.hydro.org
OEC’s WEBSITE AND CONTACT NUMBERS: www.oceanenergycouncil.org
OREC’s WEBSITE AND CONTACT NUMBERS: www.oceanrenewable.com |
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