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Harness the wind and the tide... and create a growth industry?

Maine is poised on the verge of a new growth industry related to ocean energy.

"Power generated by offshore wind turbines and tidal devices are in our future," said Matt Nixon, senior planner with the Maine Coastal Program. He was involved in the recent Department of Conservation/State Planning Office effort to find good test sites for offshore wind farm technology.

"Beyond renewable energy, there will be new opportunities to help Maine not only in job growth – but in manufacturing, transportation and training – the whole supply line for energy," said Nixon.

The demonstration siting process was called for in legislation passed unanimously in 2009.

Eastport, Maine, is the site where the Ocean Renewable Power Corporation launched a demonstration tidal turbine. The site is now being elevated to a pilot project and is under review by federal agencies for permits.

In 2011, under the FERC pilot project license, ORPC plans to install a TidGen(TM) turbine generator unit with an output of 250 KW.

"Build-out of the Eastport site will eventually include tidal devices that will generate 5 MW of power." said John Ferland, vice president for project development at ORPC. "The Eastport site is a superior site for the development of tidal energy." ORPC has two sites in Alaska now.

Matt Nixon on Monhegan Island working on the wind and tidal energy project.

"Maine's leading edge for wind power is in new deepwater technology currently being tested in Europe. We have deep drop-off canyons and a lot of wind," said Nixon. "The new technology draws on that used for oil platforms, anchored by guide wires to the bottom. Everyone knows the turbines will create energy. We need to test the anchoring systems in North Atlantic conditions using a scaled-down system."

The initial screening used to determine appropriate sites for deepwater floating wind turbines in state waters gauged wind speeds of 17 mph or more, and required a site free of obstacles ("Such as unexploded ordinance or shipping lanes,)" explained Nixon. Sites were also considered for tidal turbines.

"The map analysis then became more involved as we looked at numerous other data sets, such as whale sightings and important habitats. We checked seven large planning areas. We held meetings for all of the sites and included fishermen, environmentalists, and adjacent communities, from July through September 2009."

Seven sites were reduced to four: Cutler (Cross Island), Monhegan, Damariscove and Boone islands.

"Then we did more in-depth scoping meetings, especially with fishermen, to be sure. We consulted with federal agencies, because federal permits are required," said Nixon.

After evaluating all the sites, three sites were chosen, which comprise a total area of 5 square miles, meant for only 1-2 wind turbines per site, for a temporary period of time

"There were several objections to Cutler–too much activity and wildlife," said Nixon. "We dropped it." Fishermen from Cutler and Machiasport have since identified a small area that local officials hope eventually could be listed by the state for a demonstration project.

First all composite hydrokinetic turbine built in the U.S.

Throughout the outreach process, state officials made the distinction between testing new devices and the commercialization of large wind farms. Industrial scale wind farms and how to regulate them in Maine was treated separately by the Governor Baldacci's Ocean Energy Task Force, which was still deliberating during the demonstration siting process.

"It was sometimes frustrating for the audience," said Mark Robinson, of Mark Robinson PR, who worked with the project. "It's a complex topic. It was hard for people to understand we weren't immediately building wind farms."

"But I was impressed by the level of expertise and the dedication of the team," said Robinson.

One site - Monhegan - was designated as a University of Maine test site. UMaine has received funding from the US Department of Energy and from Congress to create a cutting-edge center for testing deepwater technology in Maine.

"Everything is in place so today a developer could go apply to test wind turbines at one of the sites," Nixon explained. although no developers have made proposals yet. The university hopes to deploy equipment off Monhegan next year and staff there are designing the environmental monitoring programs necessary to the permitting process.

In December 2009, the Ocean Energy Task Force concluded its work. Legislation that creates an improved permitting system for commercial wind farms in state waters (within 3 miles of the shoreline on the mainland and islands, an outgrowth of the task force's work, is currently being considered by the Maine Legislature.

"The bill directs DEP to write standards specific for ocean wind power, clarifies the permits needed and creates a Ocean Trust Fund to receive rent fees that are paid by developers in exchange for occupying state submerged lands" explained Nixon. Most of the proceeds from the Trust Fund will go to the Department of Marine Resources for research and programs to benefit commercial fisheries.

For more information about ocean energy in Maine, visit the following websites:

Ocean Energy Task Force:
http://www.maine.gov/spo/specialprojects/OETF/

An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Governor's Ocean Energy Task Force
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billtexts/SP071001.asp

Ocean Renewable Power Company
http://www.oceanrenewablepower.com/orpcpowersystems.htm

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