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The NewsRoom
Release: #3710
Date: August 16, 2007
MMS Sponsors
International Energy Ocean ‘07 Conference
Agency Presents Update on Alternative Energy Program for U.S.
Offshore Waters, Recognized for Energy Education Excellence
WASHINGTON
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The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service
(MMS) will join government agencies, academia, industry and members
of the international community in addressing the future of
marine-based energy projects in the U.S. and abroad at the August
20-23, 2007 Energy Ocean Conference.
The conference will be held in Oahu, Hawaii and is sponsored by the
State of Hawaii, the U.S. Commercial Service, the MMS, the Marine
Technology Society and 17 additional co-sponsors.
“As the U.S.
moves closer toward harnessing offshore alternative energy
opportunities, the MMS recognizes the importance of regional and
international collaboration,” said Maureen Bornholdt, MMS’s
Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program Manager. “The Energy
Ocean ‘07 Conference provides an exciting opportunity for MMS to
continue to strengthen its domestic and international coordination
in sharing best practices and lessons learned in areas of offshore
alternative energy technologies, regulatory oversight and
environmental research. The MMS looks forward to sharing information
on its efforts in developing a comprehensive and transparent
regulatory framework for alternative energy projects in U.S.
offshore waters.”
In addition to
co-sponsoring the four-day conference, the MMS will present an
update on the development of the Nation’s Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program, as mandated
under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The MMS will discuss the status
of its programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and its effort to
develop new regulations for the oversight, inspection, research,
monitoring, and enforcement of offshore alternative energy projects
in U.S. waters.
The MMS is also
nominated for a conference Education Pioneer Award in recognition
for its contribution toward educating the public about Ocean Energy
uses, feasibility, benefits and/or suitable locations for
implementation of the technologies. Additional nominees include:
* Ocean Renewable Energy Group (OREG), representing Canada
* European Ocean Energy Association (EU-OEA), representing
the European Union
* Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)/Ocean Energy
Program, representing the U.S.
For information
on the Energy Ocean ’07 Conference, go to
http://www.energyocean.com.
The Minerals
Management Service is responsible for managing the Nation’s offshore
energy and mineral resources and the collection and disbursement of
revenues associated with energy and mineral resource production from
Federal and Indian lands. Under authority of Section 388 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, the MMS will regulate alternative energy
projects on the Outer Continental Shelf. Alternative energy includes
wind, wave, ocean current and solar.
For
additional information on MMS’s Alternative Energy and Alternate Use
program, go to:
www.mms.gov/offshore/RenewableEnergy/RenewableEnergyMain.htm.
Media Contacts:
Nicolette
Nye 703-787-1011
John Romero 805-389-7533
805-746-2155 cell
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for
America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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