Oregon Public Broadcasting

Starting next week, the federal Department of Interior will begin to accept proposals to lease deep offshore ocean waters for renewable energy projects.

The agency is holding public workshops in Seattle Wednesday and in Portland on Thursday to explain its rules. Correspondent Tom Banse has more.

The Obama Administration has straightened out some agency jurisdictional disputes. Those had stalled clean power projects in federally-controlled waters, which is everything beyond three miles offshore.

Maureen Bornholdt manages the relevant renewable energy program inside the Department of Interior.

Maureen Bornholdt: “We're not sure who is going to come in first. In the Northwest, it may be the deep water wind folks or it may be the ocean wave folks. I think that's what makes it actually fun.”

Until now, wave energy developers in the Northwest have stuck close to shore in state waters. With clearer rules in place, Bornholdt says there might be interest in moving further out to avoid conflicts with other ocean users.

A Seattle-based company is exploring a floating offshore wind farm about 10 miles off Tillamook County, Oregon.

Online:

Minerals Management Service