[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5002-5003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2264]


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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.

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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: [email protected]. 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: 
[email protected].

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 [email protected] 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