PUD to begin tidal-power testing near Admiralty Inlet

Tidal-power testing for electricity production near Admiralty Inlet will begin at the end of the month with testing at Deception Pass to follow, say Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) officials.

The two sites top the list of seven for which the PUD has preliminary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Admiralty Inlet, between Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula, is the largest of the potential tidal-power sites, according to Craig Collar, the PUD's senior manager of energy-resource development. Deception Pass, at the north end of Whidbey, has "more of an energetic current" than initially believed.

Teaming up with the University of Washington's departments of oceanography and mechanical engineering, the PUD will use acoustic Doppler to measure currents over the next several months. The PUD also plans to test locations at Speiden Channel and San Juan Channel, off San Juan Island; Guemes Channel, near Anacortes; and Agate Passage and Rich Passage along Bainbridge Island. Already, some of those sites are beginning to fall out of favor.

"We're finding that Rich Passage would be difficult because it's where the aircraft carriers travel to the shipyard," Collar said. "So it leaves very little room for us to work there."

The PUD has gained support for its projects from Congressman Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, who has introduced several House bills that would provide tax credits for tidal-energy production and more federal funding to research such new energy technologies. State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, also has introduced bills to provide tax exemptions to tidal-power producers.

"There are no silver bullets, and not all new technologies will succeed," Inslee said. "Some won't be economically viable, but we have to look to find that out."

The PUD, which serves one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, is working to provide new energy at affordable rates, said Steve Klein, the utility's general manager, but the endeavor is vastly expensive. So the potential for new research dollars and funding breaks will be a boon if they pass, Klein said.

"It's important for the PUD to continue its research," he said. "But we also can't put all of this financial pressure on the ratepayers."

Last year's passage of Initiative 937, which requires a mix of conservation measures and renewable-energy sources to make up a utility's energy base, also puts increased pressure on the utility.

Under the initiative, utilities serving more than 25,000 customers — the PUD has more than 300,000 — need to get at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable resources, not including hydropower, by 2020.

But there are environmental concerns, and officials such as state Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, are watching studies proceed closely.

"The fear is how these projects might impact commercial fishing, shell fishing or endangered species," McCoy said. "We've been talking with the PUD since last year about these concerns."

The PUD says it plans continued meetings with stakeholders and wants the process to be a group effort.

Studies, Collar said, could take as long as three years.

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