May 2010 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 9.

Waterfront News M A I N E M A R I T I M E A C A D E M Y N E W S

TIDAL ENERGY CENTER RECEIVES FEDERAL APPROVAL TO BEGIN IN- STREAM TESTING

CASTINE, Maine — The Tidal Energy Dem- onstration and Evaluation Center (TEDEC) based at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) achieved significant success earlier this week toward energy independence. In a spe- cial order of clarification received from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), TEDEC has effectively been estab- lished as the only in-stream tidal energy de- vice testing facility in the United States. The declaration will enable TEDEC to further the research and testing of field-scale models of tidal energy devices at two sites located near the Castine college.

The declaration was granted on the ba- sis that TEDEC is hosted by Maine Maritime Academy, a public, non-profit educational institution with the intent of providing ap- plied educational opportunities for its stu- dents while serving the furtherance of alter- native energy development. The declaration requires that any electrical power that may be realized through the testing process not dis- place or replace power that is commercially available through the electricity infrastruc- ture grid. It also requires that the Center will remain non-commercial in nature with the purpose of providing scientifically-based, objective assessments and results. According to Rick Armstrong, executive director of TEDEC, the declaration clears the path for the initiation of immediate testing activity which has been significantly delayed by a permitting process that was originally developed for application to hydropotential energy sources, rather than those of hydro- kinetic energy. The FERC regulatory process primarily focuses on managing the environ- mental implications of necessary infrastruc- ture and processes related to the generation of hydroelectricity, through the use of dams and other gravitational flowing water sys- tems. “Tidal energy works with the environ- ment and the natural flow of tidal waters, so many of the well-intentioned restrictions and precautions of the Federal Power Act are not necessarily applicable to this situation, espe- cially in light of the fact that TEDEC at Maine Maritime Academy will focus on non-perma- nent, field test models that are relatively small and easy to remove,” said Armstrong. According to Armstrong, FERC’s decla- ration considered impediments to the growth and success of the emerging tidal energy industry. He stated that there is a growing need for objective, scientific field tests and assessments of prototypes with little or no domestic proving grounds. Also, there is an industry need for trained personnel for the development of installations, maintenance, deployment, and monitoring of tidal energy

devices. Armstrong said, “TEDEC, through its solid academic base at MMA, was able to assure FERC of its ability to provide support to advancements in the technology, while offering an educational platform for the ex- pansion of related career paths for its stu- dents. Through TEDEC, MMA has seized the opportunity to involve its students from across the core disciplines of the college in a number of applied learning environments, from engineering performance review and operation, to baseline environmental stud- ies, to aspects of entrepreneurship and busi- ness. This movement forward is a tremen- dous gain for the industry and our students.” TEDEC publicly announced its inten- tion to establish a tidal energy testing center three years ago. With Maine Maritime Acad- emy serving as the host institution represent- ing a public-private partnership interested in the exploration and development of renew- able energy sources, the college submitted an application for preliminary permitting to FERC in February 2007. The application re- quested consideration of sites in the coastal waters near the MMA campus in Castine as the location for the proposed TEDEC. The application requested a permit period of 36 months with the option for periodic renewal. The permit was granted in October 2007. At the time, the consortium consisted of 3 pri- vate companies engaged in the emerging ocean energy industry — Cianbro Corpora- tion, Marinus Power, and OceanWorks Inter- national. The consortium worked to estab- lish itself as a 501(c)3 agency, formed a Board of Directors, elected a President, and estab- lished and adopted a mission statement and bylaws. Federal tax-exempt status is still pending review and approval.

As TEDEC matured, industry partners transitioned to advisory roles, enabling TEDEC to focus on offering a setting for applied studies in the undergraduate curricu- lum at the college, as well as offering a non- commercial base for evaluation and compari- son of tidal energy device prototypes. “Maine Maritime Academy is committed to furthering the original intent of the founders of TEDEC,” said MMA President Leonard Tyler. “This permission to proceed is a significant milestone for Maine Maritime Academy. It will open doors for our students from an academic perspective, with a far greater value coming in the form of exposure to the excitement and potential found within the circles of entrepreneurs and the emer- gence of a new product or technology.” Through TEDEC, the college will pro- vide a tidal energy demonstration and evalu- ation center to economically and efficiently test and evaluate a variety of tidal energy devices currently under development around the world. The Center, the second of

BECOME A MEMBER!

only two in the world and the first one in the United States, will also seek to create a model for tidal energy device testing in which edu- cational and industry interests work coop- eratively to advance technology while im- proving understanding of local natural re- sources and incorporating those features in design development. To minimize environ- mental disturbances and improve the overall viability of proposed renewable energy de- vices, the proposed center will enable aca- demic research to influence not only testing procedures, but industry-wide engineering standards for tidal energy devices. In addition, TEDEC is committed to as- sisting the regulatory community in develop- ing protocols and permitting regimes that are appropriate to the emerging tidal energy in- dustry and are specifically directed at envi- ronmentally friendly in-stream hydrokinetic technology and energy production. As a non-profit, mission-based resource for alternative energy exploration, the pro- posed center will provide device developers with access to environmental research and interpretation, academic expertise regarding environmental influencers and impact reduc- tion, and professional engineering sugges- tions and solutions.

CONGRESSMAN MICHAUD TO SPEAK AT MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT

Maine Maritime Academy President Leonard Tyler has announced that The Hon- orable Michael H. Michaud, United States House of Representatives, D-Maine, will address the graduating class at the college’s 67th Commencement on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at 11 a.m. in Alexander Fieldhouse. He will receive an honorary doctorate from the college.

“Congressman Michaud’s tireless ef-

forts on behalf of the people of the State of Maine deserve our appreciation and recogni- tion,” said Tyler. “He is a champion of educa- tion and veteran’s services, as well as a strong advocate for the transportation infra- structure of our nation, all critical interests of Maine Maritime Academy and its graduates. Michaud was formerly employed by Great Northern Paper Company for 29 years and is a member of USW Local #4-00037. As a Maine native and a former paper mill employee, Congressman Michaud is as a tremendous role model for our students, the majority of whom hail from Maine towns. His record of service and accomplishments sets a standard for our students and we look forward to honoring him.”Michael H. Michaud was sworn in as a United States Congressman in January 2003 to represent the Second Con- gressional District of Maine in Congress. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Michaud serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Veter- ans’ Affairs, and the Committee on Small Business.

He first ran for and was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1980, and served seven consecutive terms. In 1994, he won his first bid for the Maine Senate, and went on to serve as a member of Governor King’s Productivity Realization Task Force, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Commit- tee, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Maine Senate President.

In 2001, Michaud was honored with the dedication of the Michael H. Michaud Tech- nology Center in recognition of his critical leadership in securing state funding for the University of Maine at Presque Isle Houlton Higher Education Center. He also received the College Board’s Education Award at the

Continued on Page 19.

Become a member of the Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association. For racers and supporters -- $20.00.

Send name, address, telephone number and e-mail to:

MLBRA, P.O. Box 710, Winterport, Maine, 04496.

124

prexar.com Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32