Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Friday, February 23, 2007 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Utility gets OK to start tidal-power study

The Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) will begin studying five northern Puget Sound sites for their tidal-power potential after...

Times Snohomish County Bureau

The Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) will begin studying five northern Puget Sound sites for their tidal-power potential after permits were issued Thursday by federal regulators.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said the PUD may research sites at Speiden Channel and San Juan Channel, off San Juan Island; Guemes Channel, near Anacortes; and Agate Passage and Rich Passage, along Bainbridge Island.

Permit applications for two other sites — Deception Pass, at the north end of Whidbey Island, and Admiralty Inlet, between Whidbey and the Olympic Peninsula — are still under federal review. They are believed to have the most potential, and there are competing applications to study those locations.

The PUD now has three years to determine whether the five sites are economically viable and environmentally safe as tidal-power sites. The PUD will begin making sophisticated tidal-current measurements next month with the help of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which helped Tacoma Power start its tidal-power project at the Tacoma Narrows. The Tacoma Narrows project was the first approved for study in Washington.

During the past two years, FERC has received about 50 applications for tidal-power projects, most of those filed last summer.

As a result of the high level of interest, FERC slowed the permit process last fall.

Regulators say they will need to scrutinize progress reports every six months to help establish a permanent rule for tidal projects. That's OK with Rebecca Sherman of the Hydropower Reform Coalition, which wants to protect environmental interests.

"We think the policy is a good step forward as FERC tries to figure out how to regulate this new industry," Sherman said. "The number of applicants for Puget Sound sites alone means this is going to be a hotbed of activity."

What's needed, say environmentalists, is a cumulative study on how tidal-power projects will impact marine mammals such as orcas and fish, including salmon.

All of that eventually will be done, said Roger Bedard, EPRI's ocean energy leader.

"It's going to take time to sort out all of the questions concerning this technology," Bedard said. "Now we get the chance to really begin, but it will be years before any plant is ever licensed or built."

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-783-0577 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

More Local News headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business

Illegal workers quietly let go

Metro won't cut bus service after all

Jerry Large: Food-bank theft turns into a gift

Bumper to Bumper: How can the city let bridges go dark?

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

Advertising