R&D

The report describes the types of metocean data needed to inform and accelerate offshore wind project development, including recent results from Denmark that suggest how calibrated and traceable ground-based vertical-profiling Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) can reduce uncertainty in estimating annual energy production. It recommends a phased development approach to outfit the Chesapeake Light Tower (CLT) with appropriate instrumentation to begin characterizing Virginia's offshore wind resource at a fraction of the cost of a new met tower in the initial phases of work.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) facilitates federal-state cooperation and coordination in areas of permitting and regulatory processes, data and scientific research, investment and infrastructure to expedite offshore wind development along the Atlantic Coast.

The report examines what is distinctive about research, knowledge generation, and scientific and technical education in Maine. It presents recommendations for actions addressing research and development funding, ways to catalyze the development of clusters, and the need to expand the human resources needed for cluster development. Opportunities for Maine's composites and advanced materials cluster are cited for their high potential in manufacturing/assembly of wind turbines, towers, and blades.

The report provides an overview of offshore wind energy resources in the United States, status and trends in offshore wind energy technology, offshore wind economics, federal and state regulatory pathways for offshore wind facility siting and permitting, environmental and socioeconomic risks of offshore wind projects, and environmental and economic opportunities of large-scale offshore wind deployment.

This Order approves the merger of Exelon Corporation, Exelon Energy Delivery Company, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, and Constellation Energy Group, subject to certain conditions, including Exelon's provision of $32 million in funding for the state's use in its efforts to realize an offshore wind project: $30 million would be used for the development of a Construction and Operations Plan (COP), and installation of meteorological towers for resource assessment; and, $2 million would be used to support research and development in wind energy generation at a public institution or institution of higher learning.

The report provides recommendations for Congress and Executive Branch on onshore and offshore wind energy, including: adoption of national renewable electricity standard; development of new interstate electric transmission system infrastructure to provide access to renewable energy on-shore and offshore; support for coastal, deep water, offshore wind energy technology research and development; streamlining of permitting processes for both offshore and on-shore wind development projects; expansion of wind research, innovation, and collaboration; and, extension of Treasury Section 1603 grant program and long-term renewable energy production tax credit with provisions to broaden the pool of eligible investors.

The Ocean Energy Task Force (OETF) recommends that Maine establish a goal to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind energy by 2030; improve the siting, governance, and permitting framework for renewable ocean energy development; promote and support financing and development of renewable ocean energy projects and related businesses; improve and align energy transmission infrastructure and state energy policy to attain the offshore wind goals; and, streamline state permitting of appropriately-sited offshore wind energy development.

The Executive Order establishes an Ocean Energy Task Force (OETF) to develop a strategy aimed at meeting or exceeding the goal of 300MW of ocean-based wind energy capacity by 2020.

The report addresses the impacts of Maine's research and development (R&D) investments on innovation, competitiveness, and industrial growth.

The report reviews and evaluates governing load cases and load effects of bottom-founded offshore wind turbines subjected to hurricanes, and existing methods of calculating breaking wave slamming loads. It offers recommendations for hurricane design criteria and breaking wave slamming load models.