Ocean Energy Planning and ManagementWhy is Ocean Energy Planning and Management a NROC Priority?
The New England Governor’s Conference has concluded that the region’s energy demands will continue to grow and that current energy supplies and infrastructure may be inadequate to handle this growth. Concurrently, there are a number of renewable and non‑renewable energy proposals in state and federal marine waters throughout New England at different stages of assessment, design, and public review.
Given this situation, there is growing awareness among state and federal planners, managers, and regulators that they lack the comprehensive information base required to evaluate these projects within a regional context. The current framework for decision making is project specific and reactive, based largely upon federal law and regulations pertinent to the Outer Continental Shelf and oil and gas energy facilities. In addition, uncertainties remain concerning the states’ role in decisions and investments regarding energy projects in federal waters (such as the implementation of federal preemption authorities contained in the 2005 Energy Policy Act).
There is growing appreciation for the need of a regional strategic framework that enhances interagency and intergovernmental coordination, communication and responsible stewardship of the public trust, and addresses the full range of planning, siting, authorization, and operation of coastal and ocean energy generating and distribution facilities. Implicit is the need to uphold the states’ central role in approving, denying or regulating energy or other facilities within state coastal and estuarine waters.
NROC’s role is to enable federal, state, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to discuss regional approaches to ocean energy resource and energy maritime transportation issues.
Ocean Energy Planning and Management Committee Information
