Tide Coming In to NY: Tidal Energy Project Approved

Making news this week is the long talked about tidal energy project along New York City’s East River.
Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy project . Photo courtesy Verdant Power

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project has permitting approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC) to commence.

This is the first-ever US commercial license for Tidal Power.
Under the license, Verdant Power plans to develop a 1 MW pilot project in the East Channel of the East River comprised of up to 30 commercial class (Generation 5) turbines, which would be installed in a staged approach. The pilot license issued to Verdant Power is for 10 years.

Verdant Power’s license application was submitted under FERC’s newly established Hydrokinetic Pilot Project Licensing Procedures, developed to allow for the advancement of U.S. hydrokinetic technologies (tidal, river, wave power), while maintaining FERC oversight and agency input.

With our surrounding area so close to the water, this may turn out to be one of our best untapped resources for several reasons;
They usually can’t be seen by humans
They usually do not interfere with boats
As an underwater turbine, marine life gets dragged along in the water current, not struck by the turbine.
Yet another renewable resource and an exciting new venture in our area!

2 comments

  1. Beth says:

    That’s so cool. We should use tidal power in Reynold’s Channel.

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