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August 28, 2008
FERC staff provides comments on the Minerals Management Service’s Proposed Rule for Alternative Energy and
Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf  |
April 14, 2008
FERC Staff provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning hydrokinetic pilot project licensing and the conditioned license program Conditioned License FAQ | White Paper on hydrokinetic pilot project licensing |
March 20, 2008
FERC allows the Makah Bay wave project to move forward
Decision |
December 20, 2007
FERC issued its first license for a hydrokinetic energy project, which will be located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington State. The license, for the Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project , includes mitigation measures to protect the environment. The five-year FERC license is conditioned upon Finavera obtaining all necessary authorizations required by federal law before they may begin construction. In the meantime, the company may move forward with those portions of the license that do not require construction (Docket No. P-12751-000).
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November 30, 2007
FERC issued a policy statement that allows the Commission to issue conditioned licenses for hydrokinetic energy projects under appropriate circumstances. This process is for hydrokinetic projects only. The Commission may issue a project license where it has completed processing an application while other authorizations under federal law remain outstanding. Licenses issued under these circumstances would preclude the developer from starting construction until the licensee has obtained all necessary authorizations required by federal law and filed those with the Commission (Docket No. PL08-1-000). |
October 2, 2007
Commissioner Moeller, accompanied by Commissioner Wellinghoff and staff, hosted a workshop on the proposed process for hydrokinetic pilot projects. Staff described the proposal and panelist and audience members provided comment. The workshop was followed by a 30-day period for filing written comments (Docket No. AD07-14-000).
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July 19, 2007
FERC announced that it is developing a licensing process for hydrokinetic pilot projects within existing statutes that can be completed in as few as six months, which provides for FERC oversight and agency input and may lead to a short-term license that allows developers to generate while testing. FERC also announced it will convene a workshop on licensing pilot projects for hydrokinetic technologies to discuss a staff proposal for a process that could complete licensing in as few as six months. |
February 16, 2007
FERC issued its first preliminary permit using the “strict scrutiny” approach to Reedsport OPT Wave Park for the proposed 50-megawatt Reedsport OPT Wave Project (Docket No. P-12713-000). |
February 15, 2007
FERC issued a Notice of Inquiry and Interim Statement of Policy seeking comments on three approaches to reviewing and issuing preliminary permits for hydrokinetic energy devices (wave, current, tidal, and instream). The three approaches were: (1) to maintain standard preliminary permit approach; (2) a strict scrutiny approach; or (3) decline to issue preliminary permits. Comments supported using the “strict scrutiny” approach (Docket No. RM07-8-000). |
December 6, 2006
FERC hosted its first hydrokinetic technical conference to: discuss the status of new hydrokinetic technologies (waves, tidal, current, and instream); explore the environmental, financial, and regulatory issues pertaining to the development of the new technologies; and included participation in the form of panels and open forum with an opportunity for written comments (Docket No. AD07-13-000). |
February 28, 2006
FERC staff provides comments on the Minerals Management Service’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Alternate Energy-Related Uses on the Outer Continental Shelf |
April 14, 2005
FERC determined that Verdant Power’s proposal to test the underwater turbines to determine potential impacts on the environment as well as learn more about the performance of the technology underpinning the company's proposed Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Hydropower Project did not require a license. A license is not required if: (1) the technology is experimental; (2) the proposed facilities are to be utilized for a short period for the purpose of conducting studies necessary to prepare a license application; and (3) power generated from the test project will not be transmitted into, or displace power from, the national energy grid (Docket No. P-12178-001) |
February 28, 2003
FERC upheld jurisdictional findings concerning the Makah Bay Ocean Wave Energy Pilot Project concluding that; the Federal Power Act  definition of navigable waters is not confined to streams and rivers; since 1988 the United States has asserted jurisdiction over waters up to 12 nautical miles offshore; and structures that contain equipment for the generation of electric power are powerhouses for the purposes of Section 23(b)(1) of the Federal Power Act (Docket No. DI02-3-001). |
October 3, 2002
FERC determined that the Makah Bay Ocean Wave Energy Pilot Power Plant would be required to obtain a license because it would: and be located on a navigable waterway as defined by Section 3(8) of the Federal Power Act ; and be located on a Commerce Clause waterway, entail post-1935 construction, and be connected to the interstate electric grid (Docket No. DI02-3-000). |
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