Operating under Prime Contract No. DE-AC05-76RL01830 for the U.S. Department of EnergyWork for Others Agreement • April 3rd, 2013
Contract Type FiledApril 3rd, 2013Washington state has the luxury of observing a similar process playing out in Oregon, which is updating its existing territorial sea plan to consider siting of renewable ocean energy. Oregon has worked closely with many stakeholders to define potential conflicts posed by renewable energy to existing uses. Early in the process, however, suitability for energy siting was not considered (suitability from the perspective of desirable or feasible locations for development of ocean energy). This resulted in preliminary maps that relegated future development to sites that were not realistic, economic, or desirable. Realizing this, the state has since worked closely with the ocean renewable energy industry to interject data on renewable energy suitability; this has led to consideration of sites that meet both energy needs while reducing effects on other use groups.