Ocean Renewable Power Company Receives $300K From The Maine Technology Institute
Denmark, ME — ORPC Maine LLC (ORPC Maine) has announced it has received a $300,000 development award from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) to support the commercial development of power from tidal energy and create the environmental and economic benefits of capturing the renewable energy from these indigenous resources. The award is to be used specifically for the detailed engineering of a prototype project, testing, and eventual installation of a full-scale commercial project.
"Maine has tremendous indigenous tidal resources and the State has the leadership and foresight to understand the importance of ocean renewable technologies." stated Chris Sauer, president & CEO of ORPC-Maine. "We want to set the example by delivering the best possible tidal projects in North America."
The project will use proprietary Ocean Current Generation (OCGen™) technology being developed by ORPC Maine and initially will be deployed in Western Passage and Cobscook Bay. ORPC Maine has applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for Preliminary Permits for the sites. ORPC Maine plans to begin building and installing a full scale prototype OCGen module in Western Passage in late-2008 and, upon successful testing and monitoring, develop, permit and build commercial scale OCGen projects at the sites.
"Like all of those funded by MTI, this project was thoroughly evaluated on its technological merit, commercial potential and job creation in Maine," said Betsy Biemann, MTI president. "Reviewers felt it showed a great deal of promise and builds on Maine's natural tidal resources as a source of renewable energy."
"On behalf of the City of Eastport, the home of Cobscook Bay and Western Passage, we're delighted with this next step forward with this project," stated Eastport City Manager Bud Finch. "The review and subsequent award from the Maine Technology initiative confirms our findings that the ORPC Maine project holds great promise for our environment and economy."
MTI was created by the Legislature in 1999 to encourage, promote, stimulate and support research and development activity leading to the commercialization of new products and services in the state's technology-intensive industrial sectors. Programs are designed to enhance the competitive position of those sectors and increase the likelihood that one or more of the sectors will support clusters of industrial activity and create new jobs. Visit www.mainetechnology.org for more information.
SOURCE: ORPC Maine