Act of 2007. This act requires the development of a plan for the use of state waters within one year. Deerin BabbBrott, Assistant Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Zone Management, explained that the goal is to identify areas off the coast that are ideal for ocean energy, fishing, recreation, commerce, transportation, and preservation. Some of these spots may be attractive for all or a few of the uses, and the plan will provide a framework for determining how best to balance competing uses. Massachusetts is well aware that there may be significant current, tidal flow, wave, wind energy to harness as well as LNG to be offloaded out of site of land. "This Act will provide a pathway for these projects to get underway and to flourish in appropriate locations and in appropriate scale operations." Massachusetts Commissioner of Energy Resources, Philip Giudice delivered the Patrick administration's supportive comments about the importance of ocean renewables, which include marine based wind systems, to help make Massachusetts energy independent. He also pointed out that Massachusetts is home to global leaders in ocean
technology development and commercialization as well as being a generator of a high tech workforce already populating the renewable energy market. The challenges of developing ocean renewables are large. The United States is in an extremely trying economic situation. But, often out of these belt tightening times, said Congressman Jim McGovern, come opportunities. Representing the former mill town of Fall River, McGovern is sensitive to the need to bring more jobs to the region. For new energy jobs, we have all got to think differently by investing from the ground up and from the top down on many different types of renewable energy systems. Tax credits for wave, current and tidal systems have been proposed on the Congressional level. The proposed budget for the Department of Energy for hydrokinetic research has grown to $30 million, and there is consideration for $100 million more to establish regional ocean renewable energy research centers. "Come November, we'll have a clearer picture of what we can expect out of Washington in terms of methods to energize
Andrew Mill of the NaREC in Scotland provided in depth "lessons learned" from his many years of establishing ocean energy systems in Scottish waters. (Photo Credit: UMass Dartmouth)
Robin Wallace, Head of the Institute for Energy Systems at the University of Edinburgh remarks on the importance of creating strong collaborations with industry, academia and government early in the ocean energy system development process. (Photo Credit: UMass Dartmouth)
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Marine Technology Reporter 37
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