More Obstacles for Ocean Development

As if ocean renewable energy developers did not yet face enough obstacles, here's another - the Ocean Protection Act bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer and reported here in
President Bush and Sen. Boxer ocean bills conflict on fish farms, Frank Hartzell, Beacon (6/23/05). According to the article, the bill is intended to address issues related to fish farms, but it goes further, apparently, prohibiting NOAA from issuing leases for wave energy plants or wind energy facilities until national standards are adopted. (It's not clear, however, what power NOAA currently has to issue permits or leases on the Outer Continental Shelf anyway). Imposing yet another restriction on the fledgling ocean renewable energy industry as Europe and other countries advance just doesn't seem like a very good idea.