Affordable, renewable power is only one of the advantages of tidal power investments
Since the 1970s, I have been involved with the Half Moon Cove tidal power project, which has recently been resurrected thanks to new technology. In December 2010, my company, Tidewalker Associates, received a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and is seeking investors as we prepare to file licenses for the next phase of the project. I believe Tidewalker has enormous potential to generate affordable electricity from a renewable resource using proven technology. But the project holds even more promise for the area than cheap power.
First, a little history. Eastport has long been recognized for its significant tidal energy potential. The difference between the high and low water levels, averaging 18 feet, is what makes this resource unique, not the water velocity. Although recent interest in tidal power has focused on in-stream devices that rely solely on velocity to generate power, our system employs a barrier to create a continuous head that will generate 50 times more energy per turbine area than a comparable number of in-stream turbines. The system was designed by me in collaboration with Dr. Alexander Gorlov. Gorlov, the developer of the Gorlov Helical Turbine used worldwide in renewable energy applications, determined that the greatest efficiency of his turbine results when used with a dam.
We are seeking permits to construct a dam at the entrance of Half Moon Cove. In March 2011, the Tribal Council at Pleasant Point, in coordination with Tidewalker, approved a resolution to investigate a proposal to produce electricity from tidal power in Half Moon Cove that includes plans to install a road across its entrance and to partially breach the causeway at the far end of the cove. This last step would restore the passage of water to Passamaquoddy Bay.
The only route in and out of Eastport is through the middle of the Passamaquoddy reservation. Increased traffic from expanded port activity has added to the hazards, noise and disruption through this densely populated community. Tribal members are interested in re-routing at least some of this traffic.
The proposed Half Moon Cove project would utilize existing roads and reconstruct the original crossing onto Moose Island off Eastport. Transmission lines are also in place over the entrance to Half Moon Cove, which makes it ideal for project development while minimizing local disruptions.
During the past decade, the scope of the project has changed in response to environmental and economic considerations. Tidewalker has always recognized the importance of maintaining the natural tide cycle (without using an external source of electricity) to protect intertidal areas within the 800-acre basin and meet regulatory standards. The basin, which was artificially created during the construction of the causeways in the 1930s, has very little fresh water access and does not pose significant salinization threats to estuarial environments.
The addition of filling gates will help mitigate long-term effects of the causeway construction on Cobscook Bay by re-establishing the flow of water between it and Passamaquoddy Bay. Col. Curtis Thalken concluded in a 2005 Army Corps of Engineers report to the Passamaquoddy Tribe that restoring the connection between Half Moon Cove and Passamaquoddy Bay is expected to restore the quality of open water habitats.
In addition to improving the area's marine habitat and enhancing the livability of the Passamaquoddy reservation, the Half Moon Cove tidal project is expected to produce 35 million kilowatt hours a year. This has attracted interest from several end users. Maximum utilization of the resource will allow energy to be generated 19 hours a day. Transmission lines are already in place, so there is an obvious option to tie into the local power grid.
But local use of energy is also considered an important part of the project's multi-faceted objectives. Using the energy close to the generation site would add value and eliminate transmission loss. Industries that have expressed interest in using such dependable and affordable power include algae production, greenhouse food production, glass recycling and hydrogen gas production. These industries would all create jobs.
Additionally, the Port of Eastport, which has endorsed this project, is in a position to benefit directly from low-cost electricity. Residential consumers could include electrical home heating as an alternative to fossil fuel.
Under favorable debt financing terms, I project the cost of electricity from this project in its first year to be below 8 cents per kilowatt hour. After 20 years when the debt is retired, the cost is projected to be less than 2 cents per kilowatt hour.
I expect this project will become a source of predictable, inexpensive alternative energy and presents environmental and community benefits.
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