Tag Archives: U.S. Department of Energy
Battery-Electric Fishing Vessel Marks a Sea Change for Small Commercial Fishers
On a brisk morning this fall, a 46-foot commercial fishing boat will cruise into the cold waters of Sitka, Alaska, and cut the diesel engine. In that moment of near silence, an electric motor will whir to life. This moment will mark a sea change for Sitka’s small-boat commercial fishing industry: a transition to energy-efficient commercial fishing, powered by low- and zero-emissions propulsion systems. The boat in question, a small commercial salmon troller named I Gotta, will make history as one of the first low-emissions fishing vessels ever deployed in Alaska. Using a unique parallel hybrid battery-diesel system, the boat can travel at full speed using its diesel engine, then switch to a battery-electric motor when fishing. In this way, I Gotta’s captain, Eric Jordan, will be able to cut the boat’s fuel use by 80%. >click to read<
Undersea cable survey marks milestone in Maine’s offshore wind quest
Three marine vessels that study the makeup and geology of seabeds are scheduled to arrive in Maine over the next week or so to survey the proposed route of an underwater cable that will link a floating, offshore wind turbine near Monhegan Island,,, The project received a major boost last August when Diamond Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., and RWE Renewables, the world’s second-largest offshore wind company,,, While the location of offshore wind turbines has gotten a lot of attention, the siting of the cables that connect turbines received less scrutiny, according to Annie Hawkins, of RODA, >click to read< 15:25
Out with the old Oyster Creek nuclear plant, in with a new one? The choices ahead. Enough offshore windfarm nonsense!
For more than a half-century, the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant energized the region and local pocketbooks before shutting down three years ago, the start of what was expected to be a tedious, unremarkable and costly mothballing. Now the path forward for Lacey doesn’t seem so clear or unremarkable. While Oyster Creek wraps up one chapter in energy generation, it seems poised to start another — with development of a smaller, cheaper nuclear prototype plant. >click to read< 08:16
Rutherford, others sign letter opposing Atlantic coast seismic testing for oil exploration
The same day that President Donald Trump touted new energy policies during a speech at the U.S. Department of Energy that he said were part of a “golden era of American energy,” Rep. John Rutherford’s office released a letter signed by him more and than 100 other members of Congress that voiced opposition to the use of a controversial oil and gas exploration technique off the Atlantic Coast. “We are writing in strong opposition to your recent secretarial order to move forward with offshore oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic Ocean,” the letter, signed by members of both parties and addressed to Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, began. “Offshore oil and gas exploration, the first step of which is seismic air gun testing, puts at risk coastal economies based on fishing, tourism, and recreation,” it said before asking Zinke not to issue any permits for the surveys. click here to read the story 09:10
Offshore Wind Faces Stiff Test From Hurricanes
As new offshore wind farms are built off the Northeast coast, a new report suggests that the current models of wind turbines may not withstand the most powerful of hurricanes. The study, by the University of Colorado Boulder, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the U.S. Department of Energy, is intended to help the budding offshore wind industry as it expands into hurricane-prone regions, such as the East Coast. “We wanted to understand the worst-case scenario for offshore wind turbines, and for hurricanes, that’s a Category 5,” said Rochelle Worsnop, lead author and a graduate researcher in the University of Colorado’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC). click here to read the story 10:58
Department of Energy Pulls the Funding Plug from Fishermen’s Energy Wind Project
The U.S. Department of Energy says Fishermen’s Energy failed to meet a Dec. 31 deadline to have a power purchase agreement in place. The department is revoking most of the $47 million in funding it pledged to the project in 2014; about $10.6 million has been spent already on preliminary work. In a written statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, the energy department said the Atlantic City project missed a key deadline. “Under the Energy Department’s award, Fishermen’s Energy must have secured a power offtake agreement by December 31 to be eligible for another round of funding,” the department said. “The criteria were not met by that date, so we have initiated the close-out process for the project.” Company CEO Chris Wissemann said Fishermen’s Energy hopes a last-ditch effort to secure a power deal will succeed. Read the story here 17:59
The Morons at NMFS, US Fish and Wildlife, Rubber Stamp Cape Wind
A day after the U.S. Department of Energy conditionally approved a $150 million loan for Cape Wind, two other federal agencies on Wednesday filed required paperwork that seemingly gives the project’s developer another in a string of legal victories. Read more here 06:20
Ed Markey, lawmakers rake in Cape Wind dollars “It just doesn’t smell right,”
Cape Wind executives and lobbyists have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars since last year into the campaign coffers of key lawmakers — including more than $50,000 to U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey — as developers of the controversial offshore wind farm seek nearly $1.3 billion in federal cash and loan guarantees, a Herald review found. Read more here 09:29
UK Fishermen Offer Maine Counterparts Offshore Wind Advice
Some commercial fishermen from Great Britain are offering their Maine counterparts advice on protecting their interests, as the state’s first offshore wind development moves forward. Maine Aqua Ventus needs to secure a nearly $47 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy before it can begin construction on a 12-megawatt, two-turbine development off Monhegan Island. At a meeting in Rockland, the UK fishermen said the industry here needs to have a seat at the table with developers as the Maine project moves forward. Read and listen@mpbn Shut this shit down. 18:41 They don’t want it.
Maine tidal power company awarded $5 million in federal grant money (comments reflect skepticism)
One of the U.S. Department of Energy grants was worth $1.9 million and will help the company develop new ways to monitor tidal current, according to Pingree’s office. The other grant, about $3 million, will be used to help fund development of more efficient generator equipment. more@bdn 10:27
Proponents blitz federal energy department in support of Cape Wind project
Offshore wind energy supporters blitzed the U.S. Department of Energy earlier this week with comments aimed at pushing the agency into giving the $2.6 billion Cape Wind project a loan guarantee. The public comment period for the guarantee closed March 11, the day supporters sent the DOE their comments. continue
