Abstract
ORPC Maine, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC, (collectively, ORPC), is a Maine-based developer of hydrokinetic power systems and projects that harness the power of oceans and rivers to generate clean, predictable renewable energy. In partnership with coastal and river communities, ORPC works to create and sustain local jobs while promoting energy independence and protecting the environment. ORPC received a pilot project license for the Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project (Project) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on February 27, 2012 (FERC Project No. P-12711-005). The purpose of the Project is to evaluate the potential for a new source of clean, renewable energy generation using tidal energy resources in Cobscook Bay, Maine. ORPC obtained a preliminary permit for the Project area in Cobscook Bay from FERC on July 23, 2007; FERC issued a successive preliminary permit on January 13, 2011. Feasibility studies, including environmental surveys, and pre-filing consultation were conducted, resulting in ORPC’s filing of a draft pilot project license application with FERC on July 24, 2009 and subsequently, the final pilot project license application in September 2011. The FERC pilot project license boundary for the Project encompasses the proposed development area (Figure 1). In March 2012, ORPC began construction of the Project off the coast of Eastport and Lubec, Maine (Figure 1). Following installation of the initial phase of the Project during the spring and summer of 2012, the Project began delivering electricity to the Emera Maine grid in September 2012. This is the first grid-connected installation of ORPC’s TidGen® Power System.