Summary

Records of OTEC International and a collection of materials related to Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion collected by Richard A. Meyer.

Dates

1930-1989 [1978-1984]

Extent

4 boxes

Biographical Sketch

The Meyer-Roney OTEC Library collection was donated to Nova Southeastern University by Richard A. Meyer, a colleague of several members of the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences. The collection is housed in the NSU Archives as a set of materials related to ocean thermal energy conversion.

Richard A. Meyer was the incorporator and registered agent of OTEC International. He is an acknowledged international authority in the field of solar ocean energy/OTEC. He is Editor and Publisher of Ocean Energy (formerly The OTEC Liaison), founded the Ocean Energy Council in Washington, D.C. and is chief executive officer of a 23 year old commercial firm. Richard Meyer received his education from Duke University and Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California. He is married with six children.

OTEC International, Inc. was incorporated in Illinois on July 3, 1980 with its purposes defined as “Engaging in all aspects of solar ocean energy, including but not limited to research, disseminating information, bringing together (as agent, broker or finder) interests and entities involved in harnessing such energy and investors therein, and entering into contracts for such purposes.”

The Ocean Energy Council, also formed by Richard Meyer, was a trade and lobbying organization based in Washington, D.C. starting in 1978. As president of the Council, Richard Meyer testified on February 27, 1980 and June 5, 1980 before committees in the U.S. House of Representatives in support of landmark OTEC legislation which was subsequently signed into law. Members of the Ocean Energy Council include the industrial sector, utilities, researchers, and others advocating the implementation of ocean energy in general and OTEC in particular.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of journal articles, books, reports, magazines, correspondence, memos, and additional publications. One of the primary publications is the Ocean Energy (formerly The OTEC Liaison), is a monthly, international newsletter published since 1976. Publication deals with all forms of solar ocean energy, mostly OTEC, and is the principal communication vehicle in the field. There were subscribers in over 40 countries. This collection has been digitized and made available online here: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/nsudigital_otec-liaison/

Correspondence includes letters with luminaries in the field of oceanography around the world. There is documentation on multiple proposed OTEC plants in various countries as well as an excellent compendium of research on OTEC (see inventory list, primarily Box 2 of 4).

Dr. James R. Roney partnered with Richard Meyer in many projects involving the advancement of OTEC, from the establishment of basic research principles to commercial installations, the largest of which was a 150-Megawatt plant at St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands planned to provide both electricity and potable water. Others included in that project were Lockheed, TRW, Chase Bank, and contractors from the offshore oil industry. More recent ocean energy projects include Sea Water Air Condoning, or SWAC, with the focus of the Meyer-Roney team, with a major development in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. Further information is available at the website of The Ocean Energy Council, based in West Palm Beach.

A much condensed biography of Dr. Roney follows:

Career naval officer in Engineering and Submarine Service, included: submarine command, and lead instructor, Naval Nuclear Power School.

Consultant to the Department of Energy on OTEC. Reviewed proposals by Lockheed, TWR< and other potential contractors. Prepared report "Economics of OTEC", with Wharton Econometrics. Site visits for OTEC projects included: site visit to Taiwan for OTEC project review, to Guam (several) for major review and report on energy in Guam, and for financing and possible construction support for Guam OTEC. Contractor on feasibility and site studies for OTEC plant on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

U.S. Representative to United Nations Conference on Health of the Oceans, Geneva.

Access or Use Restrictions

Archival collections are closed to the public. Permission must be obtained from the current NSU Archivist and the Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian.

Document Type

Finding Aid

Finding Aid Created

10-2016

Finding Aid Creator

Michele Gibney

Location

Nova Southeastern University Archives

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