Washington County has been awarded a $1.4 million federal grant to fund the establishment of a marine energy center.
The funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration will go toward rehabilitating the Eastport Business Center to open the Maine Marine Energy Center, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud. The marine center, proposed by Ocean Renewable Power Co., will be used to manufacture components for ocean energy systems, and will be the first of its kind in the United States. The project is expected to create 75 jobs and leverage $23 million in private investment.
ORPC announced its plans for the turbine-manufacturing center to the city of Eastport in April. At that time, the company said it would establish a new manufacturing company to make turbine parts for ORPC and other hydropower firms, and recruit an entity to operate it.The Portland-based company has been testing its tidal turbine generator in Cobscook Bay since February.