Transcript Walter Johnson, MMS

Energy Policy Act of 2005
• Amended Section 8 of OCSLA
• Gave MMS authority over offshore renewable energy
leasing
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Wind
Ocean wave
Ocean current
Solar
Hydrogen production
MMS Status Update - 2009
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Finalized renewable energy regulations in April
Executed 4 Interim Policy leases in November
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IP leases authorize the installation of meteorological towers
3 offshore New Jersey, 1 offshore Delaware
Received 2 applications for commercial wind leases
offshore Virginia
Federal/State Task Force meetings
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Delaware – October 29
Rhode Island – November 17
Massachusetts – November 19
Virginia – December 8
Meteorological Data Collection
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Met tower data will feed into
National Data Buoy Center
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All ocean, some atmospheric
(proprietary)
In the future: expand sharing
of non-proprietary data
Integrated Ocean Observing
System
 National Weather Service
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MMS Studies to Support
Renewable Energy Activities
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Information needs are identified on an annual basis,
and include input from stakeholders in all regions.
Studies provide information needed to support
programmatic decisions and feed environmental
analyses of planned activities.
The appropriate level of peer review is incorporated
into each project plan.
Partnerships and coordination among interested parties
and related studies are maximized.
Potential Upcoming Areas of Study
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Visual, Socio-Economic and Cultural
Impacts
Standardized Monitoring Protocols
Marine mammal, Seabird and Turtle
Surveys and Monitoring
Ocean and Environmental Modeling
Effects of Noise