U.S. Offshore Wind Projects Move Closer To Reality

[kristopher]

U.S. Offshore Wind Projects Move Closer To Reality

September 09, 2008: 02:25 PM EST

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) - Deal making and development in the wind arena continue even as the economy slows down, with the federal government moving ahead to grant leases for the U.S.'s first offshore wind projects in history and other state-based projects moving to the front burner.
...

In terms of the first possible offshore project in the U.S., Delaware appears to have jumped to the front of the line to tap into nation's vast ocean wind resource, some 15 years after Europe led the way with the world's first major offshore projects.
...

That project, along with several others for the coasts of New York, California, Rhode Island and New Jersey, as well as separate bid by Cape Wind for Nantucket Sound in Massachusetts, are moving to the front burner. New federal rules will help clear the way for several of them.

"The big story for offshore wind is the momentum," said Laurie Jodziewicz, manager of siting policies for the American Wind Energy Association. She pointed out that the Bluewater project, along with separate requests in state jurisdictions in New Jersey and Rhode Island, are picking up steam.

...

Now that federal offshore leases appear on track, a number of regulatory hurdles will likely await the U.S.'s offshore wind projects, said Howard Siegel, a partner at Brown Rudnick and co-leader of the firm's energy and utilities practice group.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will likely govern transmission lines to be built to the offshore wind turbines, and various state public utility commission will play a role as well, Siegel said.

...

"Offshore power does make good sense," he said. "It has the best ability to scale up of all renewables, along with solar."

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Meanwhile, several players continue to move ahead with offshore energy plans:

* Delaware: Bluewater Wind Delaware LLC

* New Jersey: Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC; also Fisherman's Energy of New Jersey and Winergy Power LLC.

* Georgia: Southern Co. .

* Florida: Aquantis LLC/Aquantis Development Co. Inc. for ocean current data collection and technology testing, Vision Energy, Florida Power & Light .

* California: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Marine Sciences.

* Massachusetts: Cape Wind project

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200809091425DOWJONESDJONLINE000580_FORTUNE5.htm

[spin]

1. And there are wave energy programs...

Florida is apparently hoping to lead the country in ocean energy technology. Last week I noted a private venture underway in the Florida Keys. There is also very interesting work being done at Florida Atlantic University where a pilot project is soon going to be put into operation capturing the huge potential of the Gulf Stream.

Scientists at FAU's Center of Excellence in Ocean Wave Energy say the Gulf Stream carries eight million gallons of water a minute, potentially creating enough energy to one third of the state's needs.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/energy/2007/12/ocean-wave-ener.html

[kristopher]

2. You'll enjoy this paper.

http://www.ocean.udel.edu/windpower/docs/PimentaRabeEtAl2005-MAST667-FINAL-V12.pdf

[spin]

3. Very interesting...

A combination of wind and wave power looks promising.

The advantage of currents over wind is the continuity achieved, even though the ratio is more in favor of
winds. More aspects would need to be considered in comparisons; as for example maintenance costs, etc. But
wind and currents should not be seen as competitive energy sources anyway. Rather they should be seen as
supplement sources of energy, especially since continuous and non-continuous sources make good
combinations.

*******snip************

Finally, a study realized by the Florida PIRG Education Fund in 2005 pointed out the economic and public
benefits of the use of renewable sources of energy for the state. Two policies were considered: a RPS of 20%
by 2020 and the shifting of the Florida's costs to subsidize the fossil fuels and nuclear power ($1.6 billion)
towards renewable energy and energy efficiency. By implementing these two policies, a net annual average
of 4,237 jobs would be created between 2005 and 2020; the state's gross product would increase by an annual
average of $40 million between 2005 and 2020; consumers would save $760 million on electricity bills in 2020;
there would be a reduction of global warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 15% of 2002
levels. These results also demonstrate the economical importance and benefits of the implementation of
renewable sources of energy in Florida.
http://www.ocean.udel.edu/windpower/docs/PimentaRabeEtAl2005-MAST667-FINAL-V12.pdf