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Audio/Video Files of Presentations, FERC Meetings & Conferences
Image Used by Permission of the Marine Current Turbines TM Limited |
This web site was
created to provide easy access to information about tidal energy projects
proposed in the Puget Sound region of Washington State using Tidal
In-Stream Energy Conversion (TISEC) technologies. TISEC
technology has advanced from the theoretical
stage to the pilot stage with pilot projects built in Great Britain and under
construction in the U.S. and Canada. Permits for full scale development in Great
Britain are proceeding. The project proposals are basically for creating
underwater wind farms with rotors ranging from 5 - 20 meters in diameter.
In Puget Sound there are currently 8 proposed projects by 2 different Proponents. Tacoma Power is proposing to develop tidal energy at the Tacoma Narrows. Public Utility District Number 1 of Snohomish County (SnoPUD) has proposed projects for Admiralty Inlet, Agate Pass, Deception Pass, Guemes Channel, Rich Pass, San Juan Channel and Spieden Channel.
Tacoma Power has a three year study permit issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). SnoPUD also has Study permits issued for all of their projects.
Tidal energy has the benefits of being a renewable energy source that is predictable in time, duration, and production levels for the foreseeable future with a high level of accuracy. It could also displace the need for other non-renewable energy sources that contribute to global warming.
But there are also a lot of unknowns about the effects of tidal energy development on marine resources. Studies have not been conducted to identify the effects of these energy projects on marine life. As projects are planned and developed in the United States and in Canada, studies will need to be conducted to analyze the potential effects.
Development of tidal energy in Puget Sound has the additional problems of being proposed at a time when millions of dollars are being spent on the recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act. How would development of tidal energy affect the recovery efforts of Puget Sound Chinook Salmon, Hood Canal Chum Salmon, or the Southern Resident Orca Whales? How would they affect bottom fish recovery plans? How may the proposed projects affect sediment deposition by potentially slowing the currents through the project areas? These and other questions will need to be answered as the project proposals move forward.
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February 4, 2008 Everett Herald article on SnoPUD Preliminary application document for licensing seven sites in Puget Sound for tidal energy
January 31, 2008 SnoPUD files preliminary license application document for development for seven Puget Sound sites for tidal energy production.
January 31, 2008 SnoPUD files 2nd 6 month progress report to the FERC
January 31, 2008 Tacoma Power filed their 4th 6th month progress report to the FERC
October 12, 2007 NationalSolarTour.org "Speeding Up Ocean Energy Permitting" Article about the October 2, 2007 FERC Workshop on their new 5 year Pilot License process.
October 8, 2007 Tacoma News Tribune article "State a leader in new energy sources"
October 7, 2007 Seattle Times Article "Tapping tidal energy: the wave of the future". This article is about tidal and wave energy projects.
September 29, 2007 UK Herald article "Island is current leader on marine energy" The European Marine Energy Centre opened new testing centre for tidal energy on the small island of Eday in Scotland.
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