US Senators Applaud FERC’s Permit for ORPC’s Pilot Project

U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree today applauded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of a pilot project license for the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) of Portland.

The permit, which requires close environmental monitoring with state and federal officials, will enable ORPC to construct, operate, and maintain a 300-kilowatt (kW) tidal energy project through Kinetic System turbine generator units (TGUs) mounted on the sea floor.

The project will be located adjacent to Lubec and the permit allows the company to operate the project for eight years. According to the ORPC, construction of the tidal facility in Cobscook Bay will commence as early as March. Today’s announcement from FERC positions ORPC to be the first company in the United States to operate under this pilot program.

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Offshore WIND  Staff, February  29, 2012