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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

OTEC: the government framework for development

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6441866
The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 sets forth the basic rules of the OTEC legal regime and thus addresses legal uncertainties that had previously menaced the development of a commercial OTEC industry. The act establishes US jurisdiction over OTEC facilities and establishes a federal licensing system. Legal protection is extended to submarine electric transmission cables and equipment. The act makes applicable to OTEC facilities and plantships the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the US and the laws of the sthate to which an OTEC facility is connected. Specific determinations regarding the applicability or inapplicability to OTEC plants of various provisions of law also exist. Implementation of the act by NOAA is discussed, as well as additional considerations that OTEC developers need to keep in mind. (LEW)
Research Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Ocean Minerals and Energy
OSTI ID:
6441866
Report Number(s):
NP-3901555; ON: DE83901555
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English