ORPC tidal turbine generator unveiling celebrated in Eastport

The largest ocean energy device ever to be deployed in U.S. waters was unveiled at a ceremony held March 2 at the Boat School in Eastport. Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) played host to over 200 people attending the event. Chris Sauer, ORPC president and CEO, expressed the feeling of many of the speakers in saying the project will put Eastport on the map in the energy field. Speaking at the event were business partners, representatives of state agencies, the University of Maine and staff members of the Maine congressional delegation.

Unveiled were the company's proprietary Turbine Generator Unit (TGU) and the deployment vessel Energy Tide 2, moored at Deep Cove. Once launched, the company will operate the TGU at a mooring site in Cobscook Bay for at least two months, marking another significant milestone in harnessing renewable energy in Maine waters. The upcoming demonstration aims to confirm ORPC's ability to reliably generate grid-compatible tidal energy on a commercial scale with its proprietary technology. ORPC has teamed up with the University of Maine, Maine Maritime Academy, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Eastport Port Authority to create a tidal energy cluster in Maine. Nearly all of the project components were made or assembled in Maine, including the 60' by 24' Energy Tide 2 vessel that was fabricated in the Eastport area.

John Ferland, ORPC's vice president for project development, introduced the speakers at the event that he described as a celebration. The keynote speaker, former Maine Governor Angus King, said, "Important stuff is going on here." He noted that 87% of all energy used in Maine is fossil fuel, but the Gulf of Maine is ideal for water power C both offshore wind and tidal power. "We could be the Saudi Arabia of Maine." He reminded listeners that in the past the great mills of Maine were built on water power. "All we have to do is tap it. It takes imagination and investment. That is what ORPC is doing here. They are doing something that is going to create jobs and energy." King, as did other speakers, noted that Eastport was almost the tidal energy center some 80 years ago when the Quoddy Tidal Project was proposed. The four "Ps" are necessary stated King C a plan, partnership, perseverance and passion.

Andrew Varisco, Senator Olympia Snowe's staff assistant, read a statement from the senator calling the undertaking momentous and also reminding the audience of President Franklin Roosevelt's original proposal for tidal power in the area.

A statement by Senator Susan Collins strongly supporting the pursuit of clean energy also was read.

U.S. Representative Mike Michaud, in a prepared statement read by a member of his staff, stated, "I am proud that the State of Maine is leading the way nationwide on tidal energy. Our state is in an ideal position to take advantage of tidal energy's potential with our proximity to the bay with the world's highest tides. There is more flow in Cobscook Bay than in almost any other location in North America. And Eastport continues to be the hub for some of the most advanced tidal energy research in America."

Coast Guard Station Eastport will be the first federal facility in the continental United States to use tidal energy to support Coast Guard missions. Last year the Coast Guard awarded its Eastport tidal energy project to ORPC of Portland. The $100,000 contract will support a system installation used to harness and store tidal energy and demonstrate the use of instream tidal current to supplement electrical power at the pier of Coast Guard Station Eastport. "The Coast Guard is on board with this project," stated Capt. Jim McPherson, sector commander, Northern New England Sector. "We hope the Eastport Coast Guard station will be carbon neutral."

Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner George Lapointe related how ORPC "didn't tell us what they were doing, they asked us how to do it." Lapointe pointed out that knowledge can be shared. "We can have new uses and old uses."

Paul Torino of the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) said MTI is involved in five projects. MTI believes it is important to invest in technology companies to help them grow in the state.

Dr. Gail Zaluski of University of Maine spoke of the collaboration among the university and ORPC and Maine Maritime Academy in testing of tidal power generator devices and environmental studies.

"It is a tremendous pleasure to be here today," commented Senator Kevin Raye in recalling Dexter Cooper and Franklin Roosevelt's dream of tidal power in the area. He noted that in the past two years almost $5 million has been put into the Maine economy and local people have been employed in developing tidal energy. "Today marks the beginning of a new phase. The Ocean Energy Task Force understands that ocean energy is not just wind but tidal power. The promise we have longed for now lies below these waters. ORPC has brought some of that promise."

Eastport City Council President Bob Peacock said the city council members and acting City Manager George "Bud" Finch have done everything they could to make this project possible. "This will bring jobs to Eastport, and this is important." Among those benefiting in the area from the project are Alexander's Welding and Machine, Broadbay Tooling, Brewster Excavation, Butch Harris, CPI, Custom Composites, Darren Turner, David Morang and Cooke Aquaculture, David B. Turner, Thomas DiCenzo Inc., Eastern Plumbing and Heating, Eastport City Hall, Eastport Port Authority, Eastport Public Works Department, Federal Marine Terminals, Harbor Technologies, Jason Leighton, Morrison Manufacturing of Perry, RCT Systems, Ricker Electric, Ryan Beaumont and Ronnie Oliver, Scott MacNichol, Stillwater Metalworks, the Boat School, the Happy Crab, the Repoles, Woodland Machine,, Murphy's Electric, Newell Construction and U.S. Windblade of Bath.

Both Sauer and Ferland gave credit to the ORPC team working in Eastport that includes Bob Lewis, general manager of ORPC Maine, and David W. Turner, project coordinator for ORPC Maine.

Eastport Port Director Chris Gardner said, "On behalf of the entire board, we are proud to be part of it. So many people have made it possible." Gardner mentioned the many port authority workers who had chipped ice off the equipment in winter trials of the tug.

Both Sauer and Ferland gave credit to the ORPC team working in Eastport.

The afternoon celebration ended with the christening of deployment vessel Energy 2 by essay winner for the fourth and fifth grade, Mary Bartlett, and sixth and seventh grade essay winner Madeleine Seeley. Foregoing the traditional bottle of champagne, the two Eastport Elementary School students used containers of water from the bay, symbolizing the water power that can make tidal energy a reality.