West Coast Publishing Ocean 2014 affirmative page

Ocean Renewables MHK Aff Extensions

Inherency Ext.

FY2015 budget reduced investment

The status quo has all but forgotten marine renewable energy investment. The DOE’s new budget request cuts research and development by 25%

Sean O’Neill, President, Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, 2014, The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Non-profit collective of energy producers, The Outlook for Renewable Energy in America: 2014, http://www.acore.org/files/pdfs/ACORE_Outlook_for_ RE_2014.pdf, Accessed 4/26/2014

The operating experience is beginning to grow for the MHK industry throughout the world, and the U.S. has an opportunity to compete; however, it will require consistent support from the federal government. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Moniz commented to Members of Congress in 2013 that he was looking to increase DOE-funding support for what he called the “forgotten renewables,” including marine hydrokinetic renewable energy. In contrast, the U.K. wave and tidal energy market alone is estimated to be worth over $1 billion USD by 2035. On March 3, 2014, DOE released its Fiscal Year 2015 budget submission, which proposes to increase the Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) budget by over 20%, but would cut MHK research and development (R&D) by 25%.

Not widely deployed now

MHK technologies are not widely deployed now but have huge potential for energy production

Todd J. Griset, Attorney with Preti Flaherty’s Energy and Telecommunications Group, 2011, “Harnessing the Ocean's Power: Opportunities in Renewable Ocean Energy Resources,” Ocean and Coastal Law Journal, 395, pp. 151-190.

While offshore wind projects capture energy from winds located over the ocean’s waters, marine hydrokinetic technologies capture energy from moving water itself. United States offshore hydrokinetic energy resources have the potential to provide a significant amount of power. These resources include the harnessable power of ocean currents, tides, and waves. Tidal and marine current power projects use the mechanical energy of moving water to generate electricity. Because water is approximately 835 times denser than air, a given flow of water contains a great deal more energy than the same volume of air flowing at the same speed. Humans have long recognized the power of tides to perform useful work; as early as AD 1066, tidal energy was used mechanically to power grist mills in England. This technology crossed the Atlantic shortly after European colonists; by 1640, Captain William Traske had developed a “tyde mill” near the mouth of the North River in Salem, Massachusetts to grind corn. These historical tidal projects generally incorporated moving gates that allowed water to flow in during high tides; after the tide dropped, the impounded water was allowed to flow out through a water wheel or similar device to convert the power to usable mechanical energy. Similar to conventional hydroelectric dams, modern barrage-based tidal projects rely on an improved version of the ancient tide mill technology, impounding water at high tide behind a barrage or dam and allowing it to flow through turbines to generate electricity. For example, the Rance Tidal Power Plant was constructed in France in 1966 and has a generating capacity of 240 megawatts. In North America, the Annapolis Royal Generating Station—built by then-Crown corporation Nova Scotia Power Corporation in the Bay of Fundy in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1984—has 20 megawatts of installed capacity. Despite the proven success of such technologies, barrage-based tidal projects have not been widely developed, partly because barrages affect other uses of coastal areas such as navigation, fisheries, and habitat for wildlife.

Solvency

Federal government investment is key

The federal government is essential to outreach, coordination, and cooperation across the industry, agencies, and states. This is key to competitiveness and avoiding delays

(OREC) Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, November 2011, U.S. Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Roadmap, A National Strategy to Support U.S. Energy Security and Create Jobs through the Commercialization of Marine Renewable Energy Technologies, http://www.oceanrenewable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/MHK-Roadmap-Final-November-2011.pdf, Accessed 4/26/2014

The federal government has and continues to play a critical role in energy technology outreach activities. This role can include funding for industry outreach, hosting and facilitating stakeholder engagements, officially adapting industry recommendations and roadmaps, and participating in state and regional level policy efforts. Finally, coordination and cooperation within the federal agencies on a unified policy plan is critical to support emerging industries, competitive U.S. manufacturing, and a clear, timely and predictable project development process. At present, MHK stakeholder groups, including federal and state agencies and industry are constrained from active participation in many research and regulatory initiatives and technical exchanges due to limited resources. Funding is required to enlist and encourage more direct communications across industry sectors and among state and federal agencies.

Federal government support is essential to expand the MHK energy industry

Sean O’Neill, President, Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, 2014, The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Non-profit collective of energy producers, The Outlook for Renewable Energy in America: 2014, http://www.acore.org/files/pdfs/ACORE_Outlook_for_ RE_2014.pdf, Accessed 4/26/2014

We need Congressional support for R&D to improve this innovative energy technology. Just as the wind and solar industries have received significant DOE funding for over twenty years (which has resulted in cost competitiveness and the rapid deployment of these technologies in recent years), the nascent MHK energy industry is requesting similar federal assistance to develop promising technologies that are on the verge of commercial viability. MHK deserves to be part of DOE’s “all the above” energy strategy.

Current MHK successes prove the need for federal coordination

(OREC) Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, November 2011, U.S. Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Roadmap, A National Strategy to Support U.S. Energy Security and Create Jobs through the Commercialization of Marine Renewable Energy Technologies, http://www.oceanrenewable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/MHK-Roadmap-Final-November-2011.pdf, Accessed 4/26/2014

It is clear that the U.S. has taken the initiative to recognize and address many of the issues that serve as barriers not only to its competitive position in the international MHK sector, but to the domestic commercialization of the industry as well. It is apparent that U.S. MHK successes, though welcome, underscore the need for better coordination among U.S. state and federal agencies, the scientific and engineering communities and within the industry itself. As such, it is vital for the U.S. to continue to pursue technical R&D, building national testing infrastructure, refining the MHK policy framework to include guidelines for siting, permitting, adaptive management and phased deployment, leveraging existing workforce and manufacturing experience to develop and strengthen the MHK market, enacting economic and financial incentives to spur growth and private investment and lastly, the continuation of educating the public and employing best practices in the development and eventual commercialization of the industry. Given the wide recognition and acceptance of a sustainable energy future to achieve U.S. energy independence and increased reliability, the MHK industry is confident that the benefits of past and future investments will result in the timely commercialization of a vibrant MHK industry.

Federal investment leads to commercialization

Federal funding and cooperation is essential to commercialization. The Water Power Program will enable greater economic competitiveness

Strategic Marketing Innovations (SMI), March 24, 2014, “The U.S. MHK Industry Request for the DOE Water Power Program,” Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations, http://www.strategicmi.com/press/FY15_Request_for_MHK_ EW_Approps_FINAL_3.21.14.pdf, Accessed 4/28/2014

Commercialization of technologies to harness marine renewable energy resources will require federal funding to augment research and development efforts already underway in the private sector. Just as the wind and solar industries have enjoyed DOE funding support for over two decades (which has resulted in the rapid deployment of these technologies in recent years), the nascent marine energy industry is requesting similar federal assistance to develop promising technologies that are on the verge of commercial viability. Increased resources for the U.S. MHK industry through DOE’s Water Power Program will enable the United States to leverage its technological superiority in shipbuilding and offshore oil and gas production, creating jobs and diversifying these maritime industries toward developing new domestic energy supplies and capturing an emerging global export market. In the absence of such funding, however, the United States will have to depend on foreign suppliers for marine energy technologies, and will have missed a significant opportunity to expand our economic competiveness in this renewable energy sector.

Only federal government-backed research and development leads to widespread MHK commercialization

(OREC) Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, November 2011, U.S. Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Roadmap, A National Strategy to Support U.S. Energy Security and Create Jobs through the Commercialization of Marine Renewable Energy Technologies, http://www.oceanrenewable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/MHK-Roadmap-Final-November-2011.pdf, Accessed 4/26/2014

The Federal Government has an important role in supporting research and development of MHK technologies that must be implemented to achieve the commercial strategy and mobilize widespread deployment. Federal research investments can facilitate the commercialization efforts of the MHK industry in three important areas, including technology and technical information research and development, national test infrastructure and coordinated resource assessment and characterization of deployment sites. Although discussed separately here, in practice they will be closely intertwined.

Federal investment in MHK technologies stimulate billions from the private sector and revitalize U.S. manufacturing

Strategic Marketing Innovations (SMI), March 24, 2014, “The U.S. MHK Industry Request for the DOE Water Power Program,” Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations, http://www.strategicmi.com/press/FY15_Request_for_MHK_ EW_Approps_FINAL_3.21.14.pdf, Accessed 4/28/2014

Development of a substantial marine hydrokinetic industry in the U.S. could drive billions of dollars of investment in heavy industrial and maritime sectors, as well as in advanced electrical systems and materials common to many renewable technologies. Federal investments would stimulate private funds in the construction, manufacturing, engineering, and environmental science sectors. The further development of each industry has the potential to employ a substantial skilled workforce.