On February 24, 2015, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Energy Projects issued its Study Plan Determination letter approving the Revised Study Plan submitted for the Pennamaquan Tidal Power Plant Project.
Ted Verrill, President of Halcyon Tidal Power commented: “This is an important milestone for the Pennamaquan Tidal Project. It supports the Project’s anticipated in service date of 2018 and ratifies the careful work that we’ve done to minimize potential environmental impacts.”
Given this approval, Halcyon is now ready to engage the environmental consultants at Normandeau Associates of Portland, ME and Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. of Holden, MA to carry out the approved studies as soon as local conditions permit. Normandeau and Alden have been instrumental in assisting Halcyon with drafting the original and Revised Study Plan.
The studies will be completed in approximately one year followed by a period of analysis with the expectation that satisfactory results will lead to a FERC license to construct and operate the Pennamaquan Project within two years from commencement of the studies.
The Pennamaquan Project, to be located in the Washington County town of Pembroke, is intended to demonstrate the technological advancements of the ‘Halcyon Solution’ for tidal energy projects, significantly reducing construction costs while significantly increasing environmental protection.
The Project will consist of up to 17 bulb turbine gen-sets placed horizontally within the powerhouse caissons at the center line, along with a boat lock for local boat traffic and a concrete mini caisson enclosure reaching to each shoreline.
Power output is expected to be 25 MW. The Project will represent an investment in Washington County of approximately $122 million, and is expected to provide approximately 450 direct jobs during construction and about 40 permanent jobs during operations. Halcyon is hopeful that the Project will soon be considered for an off-take agreement in Maine.
Image: Halcyon