"Maine has a world-class tidal resource that will produce electricity at a
cost of 4.2 to 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour," said Roger Bedard, the EPRI
study project leader. "This resource is better than many we studied and
will produce lower cost electricity as a result."
The Governor's Energy Bill, which received strong bipartisan support,
creates a goal of 10% new renewable power generation resources in Maine by
2017.
Supported by funding from the Maine Technology Institute, EPRI analyzed
the technological and economic feasibility of the tidal resources in seven
states and provinces, including Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia. In Maine, the study focused on Western Passage in Quoddy Bay.
The study characterized eight different tidal in-stream energy conversion
devices.
Tidal energy turbines harness the energy of tides without the need for
dams or impoundments. Some are compared to "upside-down wind turbines."
Preliminary tests of the impact of these turbines on fish in the United
States and United Kingdom show no adverse impacts, according to EPRI.
In addition to the Maine Technology Institute, the Department of Marine
Resources, the State Energy Program division of the Public Utilities
Commission and the Governor's Office of Energy Independence & Security
participated in the study.
"We are excited about the results of this study," said Beth Nagusky,
Director of the Office of Energy Independence. "Harnessing the energy from
Maine's big tides in an environmentally friendly manner will reduce our
dependence on imported fossil fuels and will create jobs in the state."
Two preliminary permits have been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission while potential developers study the tidal resource in the
Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers. Interest in the tidal energy resource in
the Cutler area has also been expressed.