Passamaquoddy collecting wind, tidal energy data (Maine)

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060326mainereports.shtml

(scroll down to middle of page)

The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point is studying two renewable energy projects wind and tidal each of which could potentially provide enough electricity to power communities in the area.

For the study of wind energy, two towers to collect data have been erected, one on the tribe's blueberry barrens in Township 19 and one in Perry. According to Stephen Crawford, the tribe's environmental director, the tribe would like to construct a wind farm at the Township 19 location, with perhaps 25 to 30 turbines producing 40 to 60 megawatts of power.

In Perry, a tower to collect wind data was erected behind the New Friendly Restaurant off Route 1 in January. The tribal government has obtained approval from the Perry Planning Board for the temporary tower, which is on land owned by the tribe. In the future, a single turbine might be erected in Perry or Pleasant Point, Crawford said.

<snip>

"We'd like a commercially viable system, one of the largest in the world," said Crawford. Depending on how much space is appropriated, Crawford said that he is hoping for a project that would be able to produce 40 megawatts of power. Noting that the turbines are less than 10 feet in diameter, he estimates that the total space might be equivalent to two or three salmon pens.

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[Dead_Parrot]

1. You'd think they'd use dragon power... nt

[jpak]

2. If this goes through, it will be the first tidal turbine facility in

North America.

Add the ~80 MW from these projects to the ~900 MW of wind capacity proposed or in construction in the state.

Maine is well on the way to becoming the first US state to generate ALL of its electricity from renewable sources...(no dragons needed).

:)