Multi-Sector Ocean Use: Traditional and Alternative Energy MAFAC Meeting May 13, 2009 Monterey, CA Tom Bigford

NOAA has an important energy role –Understanding and predicting changes to Earth’s environment –Products and services –Statutory authority for OTEC licensing –Marine environment stewardship and trustee responsibilities Increased role as traditional energy sectors expand and marine renewables evolve Working with industry and others to move forward

NOAA’s Engagement in Energy Lubchenco interest NOAA Ocean Council priority NOAA Energy Team NMFS Information Exchange

MAFAC’s Engagement in Energy? Fisheries (economic impacts) –Spatial displacement (de facto MPAs, navigational) –Gear modifications Habitat –Site-specific effects –Multi-array and ecosystem effects Protected Resources –Entanglement –Other “takings”

NOAA’s Statutory Responsibilities for Energy Issues Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Endangered Species Act Marine Mammal Protection Act National Environmental Policy Act Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act National Marine Sanctuaries Act Coastal Zone Management Act Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act The Federal Power Act Oil Pollution Act Deepwater Ports Act

Energy Issues by Sector TRADITIONAL: –Oil and Gas –Liquefied Natural Gas –Hydropower –Nuclear Power ALTERNATIVE: –Offshore Wind –Hydrokinetic (Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave, and In-Stream) –Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Traditional Energy Sectors Offshore Oil and Gas Liquefied Natural Gas Hydropower Nuclear Power

Alternative Energy Technology Characteristics Multitude of individual generating units Expansive spatial footprint Significant engineering challenges Uncertainties regarding impacts –Siting criteria and operating parameters –Environmental data collection/in-water testing Shallow capitalization; slow maturation Balancing promotion and precaution Adaptive Management

Offshore Wind Energy More than 900,000 MW of potential wind energy exist off the U.S. coast – more than half of this is in the North Atlantic. Currently no commercial wind facilities operating on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, but proposals are being discussed. NOAA provides consultations on the impacts of any proposals on agency trust resources.

Hydrokinetic Energy Electricity from “waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; free flowing water in rivers, lakes and streams; free flowing water in man-made channels…”

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Potential NOAA concerns: –Entrainment and impingement –Effects of localized temperature changes –Increased nutrients in surface waters

Pilot Hydrokinetic R&D Baseline information: ecological, socio-economic, historic-cultural, aesthetic Pilot project monitoring: installation, operation and maintenance, decommissioning and removal Bioengineering: designing prototypes to prevent or reduce adverse ecological effects Model development: extrapolation of individual impacts to commercial levels; assessing cumulative impacts “Fish” “Passage” in the ocean

‘Commercial’ Hydrokinetic R&D Expanded project monitoring: refining siting criteria, sensitive area closures Continued bioengineering: adjusting technology capabilities and operating parameters to individual species characteristics Multiple-array and ecosystem-level impact modeling Information exchange (repository/clearinghouse) Independent research capacity

Challenges Difficulty in balancing multiple uses of the marine environment Scientific uncertainty and lack of information associated with direct and cumulative impacts New forms of collaboration with outside partners needed Energy issues represent a substantial workload for NOAA staff, as traditional sectors expand and new sectors evolve

Opportunities Working with new energy sectors; industry inviting NOAA participation NOAA data and data collection expertise can assist the design of new technologies Rare opportunity to avoid and mitigate impacts at early stages Input into the design of new regulatory processes

Evolving Regulatory and Legislative Framework FERC MMS FERC and MMS MOU Legislation

Considerations Two-stage pilot process Sensitive area designations Thresholds for permits Strict performance targets Limited access Permit/license moratoria Monitoring protocols Adaptive management metrics

Considerations for MAFAC Competing Uses Marine Spatial Planning Get involved –Stakeholder meetings –Agency briefings –State/Federal workshops

Further information: Tom Bigford National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Habitat Conservation Silver Spring, MD PH: 301/ x131