West Coast Wave Energy Planning & Assessment Framework 

In order for regulatory, permitting and planning processes to function successfully the parties involved must have a strong understanding of the processes, as well as access to specific data and information. To that end, PEV has been collaborating with key stakeholders in developing the West Coast Wave Energy Planning & Assessment Framework (WCWE Framework) to facilitate regulatory, permitting and planning processes relevant to these projects.

PEV began working on the WCWE Framework in 2009, and with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) and now the West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health (WCGA), it is near completion.  Recently completed and updated portions of the WCWE Framework include:

• Regulatory Siting Handbook
• Potential Environmental Effects
• Options to Address Key Environmental Data Gaps

The articles below detail each area of the WCWE Framework and preview new components to be developed in the coming months.

Understanding & Engaging in Regulatory & Permitting Processes  In order to engage effectively, participants must first have a strong understanding of the regulatory and permitting processes. In 2009, OWET and DOE funded development of the initial portion of the WCWE Framework, the Regulatory Siting Handbook, which identifies the relevant federal and state laws and authorities and explains how they apply to hydrokinetic projects.  In 2010, PEV expanded this section of the framework to include the new federal procedures for Hydrokinetic Leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf, as well as an explanation of how the new leasing process interfaces with the FERC License process.

In addition to the Federal and State regulatory and permitting processes, there are certain Management Authorities relevant to hydrokinetic development, such as NOAA's Integrated Ecosystem Assessment and the Department of Interior's Adaptive Management Guidance. With funding from the WCGA and OWET, PEV will develop information about the relevant management authorities and integrate it into the WCWE Framework.  

This component of the WCWE Framework functions to support decision makers by identifying and synthesizing information that regulatory and permitting processes rely on to characterize the existing environment and assess potential effects of wave energy projects, and by identifying key data gaps.

Throughout 2010, PEV engaged with stakeholders to develop the Potential Environmental Effects portion of the WCWE Framework, which involved identifying information needs, synthesizing existing information, and identifying and prioritizing key data gaps associated with assessing potential environmental effects of wave energy development. This effort, funded by DOE and OWET, culminated in fall 2010 with an outreach initiative to collect stakeholder feedback on Options to Address  Key Environmental Data Gaps. PEV has just released a Summary Report highlighting the stakeholder input received. As part of the WCWE Framework, this intiative and report are intended to help focus future research efforts in a manner that makes the most effective use of available resources.  

Beginning this year with funding from the WCGA and OWET, PEV will add two more sections to complete this component of the framework. The Existing Environment section will synthesize and provide access to existing data on natural resources on the west coast. Similarly, the Socioeconomic Effects section will summarize and provide access to information about the existing condition of socioeconomic resources in coastal communities, as well as tools and resources to evaluate potential effects of ocean renewable energy development on the west coast.  This section will also identify key data gaps in socioeconomic information.

Understanding, Engaging in & Implementing Planning Processes  With the establishment of the National Ocean Policy  in July 2010 and its directive to form Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) to advance regional coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) in the U.S., CMSP has become increasingly significant to ocean renewable energy development. In July 2010, OWET sponsored the creation of the CMSP Worksite to help stakeholders learn about and engage in CMSP as it relates to ocean renewable energy. The worksite, hosted on the Advanced H2O portal, explains the fundamentals of CMSP, provides access to tools and data that help stakeholders understand and participate in the process, and highlights various CMSP initiatives underway in the U.S.