[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5002-5003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2264]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Wind and Water Power Program
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of pre-solicitation public meeting, request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Wind and Water Power Program (WWPP) within the U.S.
Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy intends to release a Funding Opportunity Announcement,
tentatively entitled ``U.S. Offshore Wind: Advanced Technology
Demonstration Projects''. WWPP is planning a pre-solicitation public
meeting in order to provide notice in advance of release of the FOA and
to afford prospective applicants an opportunity to comment on the
planned FOA, which is summarized in this notice.
DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. Written comments will be accepted through
February 14, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel,
480 L'Enfant Plaza Southwest, Washington, DC.
You may submit comments, identified by any of the following
methods:
Email: oswdemo@go.doe.gov. Include ``U.S. Offshore Wind:
Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects'' in the subject line of the
message.
Postal Mail: Michael Hahn, Wind and Water Power Program,
1617 Cole Blvd. Golden, CO 80401. Please submit one signed paper
original. Due to the potential delays in DOE's receipt and processing
of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, DOE encourages
respondents to submit comments electronically to ensure timely receipt.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Michael Hahn, Wind and Water Power
Program, 1617 Cole Blvd. Golden, CO 80401.
Minutes and video recorded proceedings of the public meeting will
be made available for public review on the DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Wind Program Web site at:
wind.energy.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Hart, Offshore Wind Manager,
EERE, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 374--3164. Email:
chris.hart@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
One year ago, DOE, in partnership with the Department of Interior
(DOI), released the National Offshore Wind Strategy. The Strategy
addresses two critical objectives:
Reduce the cost of energy through technology development
to ensure competitiveness with other electrical generation sources, and
Reduce the deployment timelines and uncertainties limiting
U.S. offshore wind project development.
To realize these objectives, the DOE Wind and Water Power Program
has developed a comprehensive approach and investment strategy to
mobilize the offshore wind industry in the categories below:
Technology Research and Development that will reduce cost
of offshore wind energy through innovation and testing (19 offshore
wind technology development projects to receive $26.5 million,
announced September 2011);
Research Addressing Market Barriers in order to facilitate
deployment and reduce technical challenges facing the entire industry
(22 market barrier removal projects to receive $16.5 million, announced
September 2011);
Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects that further
the industry knowledge base for the benefit of all stakeholders (the
subject of this meeting).
These initiatives support the demonstration and development of
advanced offshore wind energy technologies in various water depths
(freshwater, deepwater, shallow water, and transitional depth
installations) and
[[Page 5003]]
geographic locations (Atlantic, Pacific, Great Lakes, and Gulf of
Mexico).
Pre-Solicitation Public Meeting
During the pre-solicitation public meeting, DOE will provide
information on and accept comments regarding the planned Funding
Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DE-FOA-0000410 including specifically
the topical areas identified here:
Types of demonstrations;
Proposed timeframe and funding considerations;
Proposed scope of efforts potentially covered by DOE
funding;
Anticipated types of data collection and use;
Technology innovation and the ability to scale project
solutions in order to achieve cost competitiveness.
The public meeting will include an introductory session that
provides contextual background to the proposed FOA, including the
National Offshore Wind Strategy, followed by an open question and
answer forum. A complete agenda will be available at the meeting and in
advance to pre-registrants.
Public Participation
The event is open to the public based upon space availability. DOE
will also accept public comments as described above for purposes of
developing the FOA, but will not respond individually to comments
received.
Registration
Registration prior to the public meeting is not mandatory but is
preferred to facilitate event planning. There is no cost to register.
To register, please contact Stacey Young via email at Stacey_Young@sra.com or by telephone at 703-284-1397.
Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities
Individuals requiring special accommodations at the meeting, please
contact Stacey Young no later than the close of business on February 3,
2012.
Scope of Proposed FOA
DOE seeks to provide support for offshore wind advanced technology
demonstration projects through collaborative partnerships. The primary
goal of the demonstration projects is to expedite the development and
deployment of innovative offshore wind energy systems with a strong
potential for lowering the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) towards
DOE's 2020 goal of 10 [cent]/kWh.
Secondary goals are numerous and include but are not limited to:
1. Establishing world-class demonstration and test capabilities in
conjunction with commercial developments to support validation of
innovative technology, installation methods, and operation and
maintenance strategies,
2. Establishing and validating the infrastructure required for
offshore wind plant installation and operation,
3. Evaluating current siting and permitting processes and
identifying opportunities for improvement,
4. Supporting development of a world-leading domestic offshore wind
industry utilizing innovative technologies adapted to the North
American environment and operating parameters, and
5. Familiarizing the public with the concept of offshore wind.
Given these goals, DOE seeks technology demonstration projects that
combine innovation with developing pathways for substantial cost
reduction opportunities. DOE will review all compliant applications,
including ones with high risk concepts.
The final FOA will be focused solely on offshore wind energy
projects. Applications for marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy
sources, whether stand-alone or combined with offshore wind turbine
support structures, will not be accepted.
DOE may fund specific technical research, engineering, and planning
activities that demonstrably enhance the timely execution of innovative
offshore wind energy projects and ultimately lead to project
installation within the desired timeline. DOE funds may also support
capital expenditures within these projects for materials or equipment
that are clearly necessary to achieve the technology demonstration
benefits of the project. Projects will be considered from all
geographical regions, water depths, and technology areas including
innovative technologies. The major goal is to make the levelized cost
of energy of offshore wind competitive with conventional electricity.
Applicants are encouraged to convey how project success will advance
industry expertise in engineering, facility design, installation, and
performance evaluation, and will help improve efficiencies in key
Federal, State, or local siting, permitting, and environmental
compliance processes such as the National Environmental Policy Act.
This FOA is covered by a special protected data statute. The
provisions of the statute provide for the protection from public
disclosure, for a period of up to 5 years from the development of the
information, of data that would be trade secret, or commercial or
financial information that is privileged or confidential, if the
information had been obtained from a non-Federal party. Generally, the
provision entitled, Rights in Data--Programs Covered Under Special
Protected Data Statutes, (10 CFR 600 Appendix A to Subpart D) would
apply to an award made under this announcement. This provision will
identify data or categories of data first produced in the performance
of the award that will be made available to the public, notwithstanding
the statutory authority to withhold data from public dissemination, and
will also identify data that will be recognized by the parties as
protected data. It should be understood that all performance,
engineering, operations and cost data first produced under this funding
opportunity must be delivered to DOE and will be made available to the
public to further the existing knowledge base for the benefit of the
wind industry.
DOE and other Federal Agencies may be available to provide non-
monetary assistance in supporting the project, such as utilization of
Research Leases in Federal Waters. Applicants are encouraged to
indicate how DOE can assist in this effort.
NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.
Relevant portions of the draft FOA will be available on February 3,
2012 on the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Wind Program Web site at: wind.energy.gov/financial_opportunities.html. The final FOA will be available on or about
February 29, 2012 through the EERE eXCHANGE Web site at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. WWPP intends to conduct an informational Webinar
after the final FOA is released.
Disclaimer
This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of and
can comment on DOE's intention to issue this FOA. DOE reserves the
right to change the requirements of any proposed FOA, issue a FOA
involving only a portion of the elements listed, or not issue a FOA at
all. Any of the information contained in this Notice is subject to
change. Any amounts proposed for funding are subject to the
availability of Congressional appropriations.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 27, 2012.
Jose Zayas,
Program Manager, Wind and Water Power Program, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2012-2264 Filed 1-30-12; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P