Renewable Energy and Alternate Use on the Outer Continental Shelf: Status of the Development of a New Program under the Authority of the Minerals Management Service

Hill, Maurice¹ (1) Minerals Management Service, Camarillo, CA

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Act) was signed into law on August 8, 2005. Section 388 of the Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases, easements, or rights-of-way for renewable energy projects and alternate use of existing oil and gas facilities on the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Secretary of the Interior delegated authority for the new program to the Minerals Management Service (MMS). As part of this new responsibility, MMS is:

•Developing an OCS renewable energy and alternate use program and promulgating rules •Consulting with States and other stakeholders •Preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement covering the program and rules •Serving as lead agency for the project review and decision process with other agencies to ensure compliance with environmental and operational requirements •Developing a revenue sharing formula by rulemaking for coastal states •Establishing royalties, fees, rentals, bonuses to ensure fair return •Identifying needed scientific and engineering research •Establishing an interagency comprehensive digital mapping initiative for the OCS

Examples of renewable energy sources include wind, wave, current, solar, and generation of hydrogen. Possible alternate uses of existing facilities include offshore aquaculture, research, education, recreation, support for offshore operations and facilities, and telecommunications facilities.