Coast Guard plans tidal energy project for Eastport station

The U.S. Coast Guard plans to harness tidal energy at its station in Eastport as part of a broader strategy to utilize renewable energy. At a press conference held on April 22 as an observance of Earth Day, Captain James McPherson, commander of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, announced the initiative.

Through federal funding, $100,000 has been made available for qualified industry experts to develop and test in-stream tidal equipment this summer. In a prepared statement, the Coast Guard noted that along with tidal turbine technology in Eastport, the South Portland and Southwest Harbor bases will "install wind turbines that power computers, servers and monitors at a combined 365 kilowatt hours per month, and 360 lighted buoys and 60 light houses that are energized by solar panels."

The Coast Guard is responding to Executive Order 13423 of January 24, 2007, which sets agency goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by three percent annually through the year 2015 or 30 percent by the end of fiscal year 2015, relative to the baseline of the agency's energy use in fiscal year 2003.

"Most people are aware of the Coast Guard's role in protecting the marine environment, but we also have responsibilities to the taxpayers too," said McPherson. "Nature provides other opportunities for New England units, and solar and wind power are part of the plan."

The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center's announcement for the proposal specifies that the tidal turbine project will "demonstrate the use of in-stream tidal current to supplement electrical power at the pier of Coast Guard Station Eastport, Maine. A demonstration period would be used to evaluate the viability of tidal current power being used to augment station electrical power."

The bid deadline is set for May 29. The demonstration would range from no less than 60 days, to no more than 12 months, with a preference for a 12-month demonstration timeline. The project description states that a "successful system would be installed in the vicinity of the Coast Guard Station Eastport's pier supplementing the electrical power provided to the Coast Guard station and/or pier."

The Eastport Port Authority, at its April 21 meeting, approved signing any necessary agreements for the Coast Guard to place the tidal turbines under or near the breakwater.

The seven tidal turbine project objectives are: obtain all necessary operating approvals and permits before the scheduled installation date; use the tidal current available in the vicinity of the Coast Guard pier in Eastport; provide electrical power to the Coast Guard Station Eastport floating small boat dock, or power a portion of other station facilities; measure usable electrical power being provided to the pier or facility; operate through all environmental conditions; ensure that the operation does not adversely affect operations at or around the pier; repair the device and restore service if there is an equipment failure.

The demonstration start date is targeted for August 31, 2009, with the contract awarded by July 31. The period of performance of the award will be for 15 months.

Station Eastport's Officer-in-Charge James Malcolm says, "Green energy is very exciting to all of us; it captures the spirit of Downeast." He reports that other energy initiatives at the Coast Guard station include a wind turbine that will be installed on the radio tower. The turbine will generate "approximately three to five kilowatts," he says and explains that the wind turbine will power a bank of backup batteries for all the computer and electronic equipment. The electronics detachment of the Southwest Harbor Coast Guard station will install the turbine.

There is still much that remains to be determined about the project, acknowledges Malcolm. "What kind of technology will come forward and the final percentage of the power contribution C we don't have hard and fast numbers. Some of that will be determined by the proposal," he says.