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August 20, 2009

State signs historic tidal power accord

By The Mainebiz News Staff

State officials have established an agreement with federal regulators that will streamline the state and federal process for reviewing tidal energy projects.

Gov. John Baldacci and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman John Wellinghoff yesterday signed the memorandum of understanding during a meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a press release from the governor's office. The agreement allows the state and FERC to coordinate procedures for reviewing tidal projects in coastal waters, where both state and federal regulators have authority.

The agreement states:

• The state and FERC will notify the other when one learns of a potential applicant for a preliminary permit, pilot project license or license

• Maine and FERC will agree on a schedule for processing applications, which includes specific milestones each party must reach. They will also encourage other federal agencies and stakeholders to follow the schedule.

• Maine and FERC will work together to identify potential issues and determine what further studies or information is needed to review the projects

• When reviewing applications, FERC agrees to consider whether proposed projects are consistent with Maine's comprehensive plans

• Maine agrees to take action on an application for water quality certification for a demonstration tidal project within 60 days of the state's acceptance of an application

John Ferland, vice president of project development at Ocean Renewable Power Co. in Portland, told the Portland Press Herald the agreement was a "regulatory innovation" vital to the development of the tidal power industry. This is the first agreement between a state and FERC on the East Coast. FERC has signed two similar agreements with Oregon and Washington, according to the release.

Reader comments

From Bo Yerxa (Mon 8/24/2009 2:48 PM)

While there is little doubt we in Maine need to be creative in finding ways to utilize the tides for power generation, this deal will essentially allow powerful political/economic interests to ride rough-shod over local governments/residents and their proper concerns.

Dam Cobscook Bay, and thousands of clammers, wormers & others dependent on sealife harvesting - with that sealife largely dependent on the tidal cycles - could easily be gone...just as the power will be gone to southern New England.

From Denise Johnson (Thu 8/20/2009 4:53 PM)

The previous commentator states "...a few birds and a few fish" - a million acres worth? Marine life and the coast of Maine are what substantially define the State of Maine. Where would we be and what would we be without them? I'm glad we have the oversight and protection in place to temper what we take from our limited natural resources. There's no free lunch - ever. Just ask our lobstermen. We have yet to know, discover, explore and fathom the value of most of the oceans on this planet. It is foolish and arrogant of us to deem what is and what is not of value here, and what we think we can sacrifice now, for what will extend our immediate appetite for energy. In our ignorance -- albeit ever temporary as science continues its quest for knowledge -- we can, and may have already in the case of global warming, cut our own environmental throats. Science now finds that this planet is even more of a cosmic anomaly than we ever knew before. Let's not be drilling holes in our own lifeboat.  

From Marc Mailhot (Thu 8/20/2009 2:03 PM)

The State is over 45 years too late. Our late great Senator Ed Muskie proposed Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project in the late 1960s and early 970s using tides from the Bay of Fundy for our power here in Maine and other portions of New England... and the environmentalists killed it because it would flood a million acres and kill a few birds and fish. Sen. Ed had the foresight to see down the road...too bad no one else did back then. As usual...too little...too late...  

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