Jan 13 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Sabrina Cardin The Daily News of Newburyport, Mass.


While wind turbines have sparked recent controversy, another alternative energy source quietly slid into Newburyport yesterday.

Resolute Marine Energy Inc. deployed the first wave-powered energy converter on the East Coast, a project facilitated by Cliff Goudey, chairman of the Waterfront Trust and Newburyport Energy Advisory Committee. The test is part of a larger federally funded grant led by Ocean Farm Technologies.

"Local support has been great," Goudey said. "It seems like everyone is happy about looking for alternative energy."

The converter has the potential to create an alternative energy source and consists of a floating buoy on the surface of the ocean that follows the up-and-down wave action. The converter is expected to monitor a week's worth of wave energy, beginning the preliminary steps to estimating future energy output.

William Staby, CEO of Resolute Marine Energy Inc., relates the new technology to that of a popular flashlight now on the market that is shaken to generate power. The power is generated by moving magnets inside of a coil of wires, therefore generating electricity flow.

He said the technology could have two major roles: providing electricity in small amounts to isolated and autonomous ocean projects; and creating "wave farms" with many buoys that could connect to a larger electricity grid and provide electricity for cities and towns.

Goudey works for MIT and has spent the past six months pushing for the launch from Newburyport. After a full day two miles offshore, Goudey was forced to leave the launch incomplete due to a malfunctioning buoy. The team tentatively will return to the water this weekend once the weather clears.

"We have everything in place right now and will start testing once the buoy goes out," Goudey said.

Despite the malfunction, he remains confident the converter will be able to track about a week's worth of data.

"This is a relatively new industry. Most testing is taking place in warmer waters," Goudey said. "There have been some successes and some failures. Right now water energy is where wind energy was 10 years ago."

The energy converter will not initially produce energy for Newburyport but holds potential for the city in many other ways. Local officials are hoping the testing site will encourage other companies to recognize the city as open to potential waterfront endeavors and build up the city's reputation for thinking green.

"This is important for Newburyport," said Jim Stiles, vice chairman of Newburyport's Energy Advisory Committee. "Hosting a wave energy converter here sends the right message."

Local industries such as Wilson Welding of Salisbury have helped the effort by creating the 2,700-pound device. Also locally hired were Mike Goodbridge, Graham McKay and Jim Whipple, who dove into the cold water to rig the converter.

Yesterday's temperature remained in the low 20s, with the water temperature in the mid-30s. Due to conditions, the divers said they would be able to stay underwater for only about 30 minutes.

"It takes a healthy dose of stupidity to dive in," Whipple said about the frigid temperatures.

Goodbridge owns and operates the local Towboat U.S. franchise and helped lead yesterday's dive.

"I think this is great for Newburyport," Goodbridge said. "I support all new energy ideas."

The energy wave converter testing was one of the first initiatives for the Energy Advisory Committee. Stiles helped work on the quick approval of the testing and believes the project has potential for short- and long-term benefits.

"It's certainly very exciting that this is happening. I think this shows that Newburyport is very open and responsive to new energy ideas," Stiles said.

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