Maine was at the center of green energy Tuesday as the Ocean Renewable Power Co. launched a major tidal energy project in Cobscook Bay, which is connected to the Bay of Fundy, famous for its tides. The first of several turbines was to be lowered into the water, and the goal is that it will start cranking out the power by Sept. 1.
Natural Resources Defense Council energy expert Nathanael Greene notes that the project is “the first in the U.S. to receive a FERC license, negotiate a power purchase agreement, and install and operate a power-producing tidal generator.
Initially, it will produce enough energy to power just 75 to 100 homes, but OPRC plans to add more devices and produce enough power for 1,000 homes.
And here’s the Department of Energy report on the project. It quotes U.S. Sen. Susan Collins: “Maine is well positioned to lead the nation in tidal energy development. The Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project is one example of the type of actions we need on a national scale to stabilize energy, prevent energy shortages, and achieve national energy independence.”
According to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, “The Eastport tidal energy project represents a critical investment to ensure America leads in this fast-growing global industry, helping to create new manufacturing, construction, and operation jobs across the country while diversifying our energy portfolio and reducing pollution.”
(c)2012 The Philadelphia Inquirer
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Federal wefare. Like the windmills.
Both don’t or won’t make a diffence and everyone knows it.
The governemnt hides the truth behind cheat energy, that would make both obsolete.
What would be obsolete? Federal wefare or cheat energy?
The point is, you find fault with initiatives that are not to your liking. Remember glass houses…someone could easily find fault with your faulty rhetoric!
Federal welfare yes. Like the windmills not yet, but they might become flounder grinders. The advantage here is the transmision lines are a short run to the substation, and they are out of sight. Sound transmited could have a negitive impact on sea mammels. There are still many unknowns, but if all works well it could bring some manufacturing to Maine. Energy is only cheap because of fracking for gas, I’d like to see that made obsolete, as well as windmills.
Most of our Billion Dollar Oil Corporations don’t pay taxes and receive Federal Welfare. The Republicans love to throw money at the oil companies even when they don’t need it. Who is kidding who?
Agreed, we are being scamed by energy on all sides, here at least there is some hope for manufacturing in Maine.
Of course they pay taxes. Where do you come up with stuff like this?
Yeah I prefer the current system of making middle eastern nations wealthy because we buy their oil.
Then they finance terrorist groups.
Yes, let’s stick with the current system.
I prefer to drill oil in America.
Actually, tidal turbines have a lot of development potential, which is more than can be said for the wind option. Early days yet.
(Also, what does “hides the truth behind cheat energy” even mean?)
I’m just hoping to see some folks get cheaper electric costs… that’s all!
Well, we started out with a nice article about cheaper home grown energy, and end up reading comments from media grown political hacks head banging over federal financing. Good grief charlie brown, give it a break!
If it ever gets under a dollar a kwh I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
$25 million to power 75-100 homes? How many more homes did the hydro dams power for nothing that they just removed??
It’s unbelievable, it’s a rot’in cry’in shame when you think about it. The most effient green energy known to man, a state well setup for it and we dink around with toys like kids in a sandbox. E/W highway, torrifed wood, windmills. Build a major hydro plant and be done with this crap. Offer manufacturing dependent on heavy consumption of electrcity a rate they can’t refuse. We can create so much power through hydro we could almost give it away. It would be better for Maine to refuse the goverment subsidized energys and go into the hydro business.
It would be nice to have a more choices for our electricity rather than only bangor hydro…cheaper would be good.
It will interesting to see how or IF this will ever effect elec rates. It’s a very expensive project – -time will tell. Meanwhile up go the taxes. Speaking of, what’s the city making on taxes out there now?