Industries
Hydrokinetic Projects
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Hydrokinetic Projects
Definition: Projects that generate electricity from waves or directly from the flow of water in ocean currents, tides, or inland waterways.
Process:
- Anyone seeking to study development of a hydrokinetic project at an identified site should first seek a preliminary permit.
- Preliminary permits are issued for up to three years.
- These permits do not authorize construction. Rather, they give the developer priority to study a project at the specified site for the duration of the permit. This is otherwise known as “guaranteed first-to-file status.”
- Once the preliminary permit has been granted, the permittee must submit reports containing specific information (example of preliminary permit
):
- A schedule of activities and target dates, and
- Periodic reports on the status of its studies.
- To apply for a license to construct and operate a hydrokinetic electric generation facility for up to 30 – 50 years, use one of three licensing processes.
- Eligible developers interested in a short-term license to test new technologies may use the Hydrokinetic Pilot Project Licensing Process.
Timeline of Commission Actions Related to Hydrokinetics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 2002 | |||||||||||||||||
August 19, 2009 FERC, Maine sign first East coast hydrokinetics agreement News Release | MOU ![]() |
August 4, 2009 FERC, Department of the Interior issue guidance document on Outer Continental Shelf hydrokinetics development ![]() |
June 4, 2009 FERC, Washington sign MOU for Hydrokinetic Energy Projects News Release | MOU ![]() |
June 4, 2009 FERC, Washington sign MOU for Hydrokinetic Energy Projects News Release | MOU ![]() |
April 9, 2009 Secretary Salazar, FERC Chairman Wellinghoff sign agreement to spur renewable energy on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf News Release ![]() ![]() |
March 17, 2009 Interior and FERC Announce Agreement on Offshore Renewable Energy Development News Release ![]() |
December 15, 2008 FERC approves first hydrokinetic device for existing hydroelectric project News Release | Decision ![]() |
October 16, 2008 FERC asserts jurisdiction over Outer Continental Shelf hydroelectric projects News Release | Decision ![]() |
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 ![]() ![]() |
March 26, 2008 FERC, Oregon sign Memorandum of Understanding for Wave Energy Projects News Release | MOU ![]() |
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 ![]() |
November 30, 2007 FERC issued a policy statement ![]() |
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). |
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 ![]() |
February 15, 2007 FERC issued a Notice of Inquiry and Interim Statement of Policy ![]() |
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 ![]() |
February 28, 2003 FERC upheld jurisdictional findings concerning the Makah Bay Ocean Wave Energy Pilot Project ![]() ![]() ![]() |
October 3, 2002 FERC determined that the Makah Bay Ocean Wave Energy Pilot Power Plant ![]() ![]() |
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