Ocean Zone News Blog

From: Power Engineering

During the opening keynote session at the Energy Ocean International Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse identified a core problem to developing ocean energy technologies in the U.S.: process.

Following the continued success of the offshore wind development process in the state – the Department of the Interior announced last week that it will hold first-ever leasing auctions for more than 164,000 acres off the coast of R.I. and Massachusetts on July 31 – Whitehouse explained some lessons learned. “You can have the best technology in the world, but if you can’t site somewhere then [development] problems still remain,” he said.

In March 2013, the Commission proposed legislation to create a common framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management . While each EU country will be free to plan its own maritime activities, local, regional and national planning in shared seas would be made more compatible through a set of minimum common requirements.

The proposed legislation is available here

From: Wahkiakum County Eagle

Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee will be hosting a workshop on Marine Spatial Planning on April 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park in Rosburg.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a public process for analyzing use of marine areas, with the goal of making informed and coordinated decisions on marine resource management. Those who could be affected by or have a vested interest in marine spatial planning include commercial and recreational fisherman, local ports, recreational users (beach goers, kayakers, surfers, etc.), and alternative energy developers. Some liken the process to zoning for the ocean.

From: EU Press Release

Today the Commission launched a proposal to improve the planning of maritime activities at sea and the management of coastal areas. The proposal – which takes the form of a draft directive – aims to establish a common European framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in EU Member States, with a view to ensuring that the growth of maritime and coastal activities and the use of resources at sea and on coasts remain sustainable.

From: Politico

The federal government should expand access to offshore oil and gas, phase out the wind production tax credit and preserve a key Energy Department loan guarantee program promoting clean energy, a broad coalition of former senators and industry, environmental and labor officials said as part of sweeping recommendations the group issued Wednesday.

The Bipartisan Policy Center’s 20-member Strategic Energy Policy Initiative dipped into other contentious debates over energy exports, military biofuels investment and climate change in recommending a host of ideas in its report. The recommendations are intended to expand both conventional and alternative energy production along with energy efficiency.