Since the initial dreams of Dexter Cooper and FDR to harness the tides of Passamaquoddy Bay as embodied by the 1930’s Quoddy Project, engineers and politicians have continued to be interested and have attempted to bring this dream to fruition. Various studies and proposals have surfaced over the years. In the 1970’s a small scale project was proposed by the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Today this site at Half Moon Cove remains the obvious choice for America’s first major Tidal Power Installation to harness and demonstrate the natural power available in this region.
HALF MOON COVE: SPRING 2007
The awarding of a three year preliminary permit from FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) to Tidewalker Engineering of Trescott, Maine marks a new phase of alternative energy development in Maine and specifically Washington County. The revival of this project from its 1970’s inception has been taken on by the principal drafter of the earlier proposal. Today in 2007, with the demand for energy alternatives and a broader understanding of environmental consequences associated with energy production, this project is positioned to meet the needs of the region in a number of ways:
- Bring a dynamic and unique project to an economically depressed region that utilizes its primary natural resource (extreme tidal fluctuation).
- Produce up to 16 Megawatts of power from an optimized design and configuration at the designated site.
- Produce power at a constant cost at a predictable rate making it a sound investment for the developers, the utilities and the consumer.
- Produce jobs associated with the construction and maintenance, tourism as well as a light industry that can utilize the specialized energy source from this plant.
During this next phase of the project, Tidewalker Engineering will be conducting the feasibility study assessing in complete detail the technical, financial and environmental aspects of the project with consideration of various configurations and operating modes. Concurrently, financial support and project investors will be sought.
Once the feasibility has been determined (which under the present circumstances is quite likely) the licensing process will be undertaken. The preliminary permit is for three years and it is now projected that by 2010 work on the construction of a Tidal power facility can begin.
For additional information on Tidewalker Associates and tidal power development, please contact:
