NB 570
May 13, 2005
FREDERICTON (NB) - Energy Minister Bruce Fitch announced today the province will participate in a preliminary study on the potential of tidal power.
The site-specific study includes an assessment of the feasibility of tidal power off the New Brunswick coastline, and identifying potential projects and demonstration sites. It will be carried out by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
The study will assess the potential for this new generation of tidal flow, using no containment dams, but rather, simple turbines installed on the seabed. The new technology is considered more environmentally friendly.
New Brunswick is part of a larger study that includes participation by Maine, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, the U.S. Department of Energy, the City of San Francisco, Alaska and Washington.
The Province of New Brunswick will contribute $30,000 (U.S.) to the project, and an additional $30,000 in funding from two other New Brunswick agencies is being finalized.
Other partners brings the total amount of the study to $350,000 when all funding is confirmed.
Fitch said he is looking forward to the work that will be carried out by the Institute.
"It has been a long time since tidal power has been looked at seriously in our province, and we all know the importance of a diverse power supply," Fitch said. "It is important for us to examine all possibilities for the future - not only reliable and affordable but also environmentally sustainable ways to generate electricity."
He said that since there are others involved in the study, it will give New Brunswick and the other partners access to greater expertise and data than would have been the case if each jurisdiction were to do separate studies.
Renewable energy is gaining greater importance for New Brunswick, Fitch said. Besides the province's commitment to the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Action Plan, the province is moving ahead with a Renewable Portfolio Standard which will require through regulations that a certain percentage of the electricity produced in the province comes from renewable sources.
Based in California, EPRI has over 30 years of experience in the research field and is recognized as a world leader in creating new energy technologies. The organization was formed in 1973 as an independent, non-profit organization designed to manage broad public-private collaborative research programs on behalf of the electric utility industry, the industry's customers, and society at large.
05/05/13
MEDIA CONTACT: Marc Belliveau, director of communications, Energy, 506-444-5912.
05/05/13