Georgia develops new tool to facilitate offshore energy
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2016 - To close the data and
communication gaps between regulatory agencies that could delay the permitting
process, Georgia Tech's Center for Geographic Information Systems and Strategic
Energy Institute partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) Coastal Resources Division to launch
a new marine spatial planning tool. The tool, called the Georgia Coastal and Marine Planner
(GCAMP), aims to define a clear process for offshore energy licensing and
permitting in Georgia.
Development of the abundant natural wind and ocean resources
on Georgia’s coastline has progressed slowly, in part because state and federal
laws regarding the use of coastal waters for offshore energy development are
still evolving and no structure is currently in place for local and state
permitting.
"Offshore projects often involve areas of significant
jurisdictional overlap," says Mary Hallisey Hunt, director of research and
business operations for the Strategic Energy Institute. "GCAMP provides
easily accessible and understandable baseline information by which potential
stakeholders can make informed decisions about the suitability and economic
viability of potential sites for offshore development."
Sponsored through a five-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), GCAMP creates a central repository for public data and information
relating to Georgia's coastline. The application provides industry, government
agencies and research institutions engaged in the planning and management of
Georgia's ocean resources with tools and interactive maps to aid in the
assessment of potential locations for offshore development. Tony Giarrusso, associate director of
Georgia Tech's Center for Geographic Information Systems, says GCAMP was
designed for user ease and flexibility. “We've put a lot of thought into the
data and its potential uses and have created a comprehensive yet manageable
tool that could be useful to many other recreational and commercial industries
beyond energy."
NOAA's Office
for Coastal Management provides a case study as an educational resource
on Digital Coast, an online community providing tools,
training and information for coastal management professionals.
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