Renewable energy technology developer Principle Power hosted two Town Hall meetings yesterday to introduce the community to the proposed WindFloat Pacific Demonstration Project.
Principle Power has received a $4 million financial assistance award from the U.S. Department of Energy to begin project outreach, front-end engineering design and initial project permitting for installation of five semi-submersible floating foundations outfitted with 6MW direct- drive offshore wind turbines approximately 15 miles offshore of Coos Bay.
Principle Power provided information about the WindFloat and the proposed WindFloat Pacific project. The WindFloat is a floating foundation for wind turbines that enables strategic placement to minimize impacts to ocean users and natural resources, while capitalizing on the highest capacity wind resources.
In addition, there were representatives from the local commercial fishing industry and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) of Seattle. One of 10 national labs managed by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, PNNL leads the identification and risk-based assessment of environmental effects of offshore wind energy development, while also contributing significant resources for atmospheric science research.
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Press release, May 23, 2013; Image: principle power