Interior, FERC end feud on offshore renewable projects

The Interior Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission agreed to work together to settle a longstanding conflict over which agency oversees offshore alternative energy, the Interior Department announced today.

Noting that there is no dispute with respect to offshore wind energy, Salazar added that the intention of FERC and Interior’s Minerals Management Service is to work together to finalize rules governing all offshore alternative energies, including current and tidal.

“We don’t want to be tripping over each other as we’re dealing with ocean, tidal and wave energy,” Salazar said. “We are very ready to move forward with offshore wind technologies. … We will work out something that will be satisfactory to both FERC and us.”

The two agencies will issue a broader memorandum of understanding outlining the process by which permits and licenses related to offshore renewable energy resources will be developed, Salazar said.

NY Times