In early 2012, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a pilot project license to ORPC for the Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project. In April, the Maine Public Utilities Commission approved the basic terms of a 20-year power purchase agreement for ORPC’s Maine Tidal Energy Project (which includes the Cobscook Bay Project) with Central Maine Power, Bangor Hydro Electric and Maine Public Service
In July, ORPC dedicated the first TidGen turbine generator unit (TGU) at an Eastport ceremony attended by US Dept. of Energy and FERC officials, national press, over 200 Lubec and Eastport community members, industry colleagues (from the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Japan) and others.
In late summer, ORPC completed installation of the first TidGen Power System at the Cobscook Bay project site, including the on-shore station on Seward Neck, Lubec.
This first TidGen device has a peak output of 180kW and will generate enough electricity annually to power 25 to 30 homes. Two additional TidGen devices will be installed at ORPC’s Cobscook Bay Project site in the fall of 2013 and, together, the three-device power system will generate enough energy to power 75 to 100 homes.
