Federal Agencies to Cooperate on Renewable Energy

The U.S Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have announced that they will cooperate to help spur development of renewable energy on lands and offshore waters managed by the DOI. The agreement will eliminate some of the bureaucratic barriers surrounding permitting.

A major impact of this will be seen on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), where the DOI manages 1.7 billion acres, granting leases, easements and rights-of-way to develop oil, gas and renewable resources. There is significant potential for offshore wind farms on the OCS, where the stronger and more consistent winds found offshore can be harnessed by larger turbines than those used on land.

The FERC still holds responsibility for developing hydropower on navigable waters in the U.S., and this includes hydrokinetic wave, tidal and ocean current energy located offshore. The agreement with DOI clarifies the roles that each department will play in permitting projects and should help speed the process.

This agreement comes on the heels of DOI Secretary Salazar's decision to designate ‘renewable energy zones' on federal land to help expedite development of renewable energy projects. The DOI manages land that includes 140 million acres with geothermal potential, 29 million acres with solar potential, and 21 million acres with wind potential.

You can read more about this agreement on the RenewableEnergyWorld.com website here.

PERSONALLY SPEAKING
It is reassuring to see the federal government making strides to develop renewable energy sources under its management. They are clearly responding to the need and demand for renewable sources of power to reduce our environmental impact, and it's about time. ~Kevin

Kevin Maddaford is the Consumer Services Manager and Resource Development Associate at Renewable Choice Energy.