FERC presentation

Now it's FERC's turn to present, with Kristen Murphy here from Washington, DC to represent the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She points out the fact that FERC licenses hydropower projects, which include wave generators and tidal turbines, but not wind turbines.

She's describing FERC's permitting and license process now. Steel yourself for some hardcore bureaucracy: first FERC offers a preliminary permit for feasibility studies and to let the project developers move forward with financing, etc. Then, presuming all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted, FERC issues a final permit authorizing construction. You also need an operating license, as with hydro dams, which are renewed every 30-50 years.

No license is required for experimental, short-term studies that don't transmit into the grid. The Roosevelt Island tidal power project in the East River satisfied these criteria during its testing phase, so no license was needed.

As with MMS, FERC is still trying to figure out its position and authority re: wave and tidal energy projects. They're also very open to collaboration with the industry (says Murphy the FERC employee).

Here's FERC's white paper on FERC's hydrokinetic pilot project licensing.