Maine commercial project to deploy tidal energy

The Energy Department on 24 July saw the first commercial, grid-connected tidal energy project U.S.. The pilot operation off the coast of Eastport, Maine, is an investment of $10 million from the Department of energy uses. Ocean renewable power company will provide its first commercial tidal energy device in Cobscook Bay this summer.

Tidal energy is a clean, renewable resource that can be used where ever changing tides move a significant number of water, including on the coasts of many cities in the United States where it high electricity demand. In the vicinity of Maine, one of the most robust tidal energy resources in the world, the Bay of Fundy as 100 billion tons of water flow inside and outside of the Bay is daily. Initially, the pilot project of Cobscook Bay will provide enough electricity from renewable energy sources to power between 75 and 100 houses. In addition to this Department of energy supports pilot ORPC plans to expand his Maine project and install additional tidal energy devices for the supply of more than 1,000 Maine homes and businesses.

This year a published tidal energy resource assessment, identifying about 250 TWh of annual electricity generation from tidal energy nationwide. Tidal energy is a great opportunity for new water power development in the United States, especially along the East Coast as well as in Alaska and Hawaii. See the press release of Ministry of energy and water power program Web site.

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DOI OKs first commercial solar project on Indian trust land

The US Department of Interior (DOI) approved on 21 June a 350-megawatt (MW) solar energy project on tribal trust land the Moapa band (tribe) of the Paiute Indians in Clark County, Nevada. The project is a milestone, as the first solar utility-scale project approved for development on tribal lands. The record of the decision approved the construction, operation and maintenance of a low-impact photovoltaic (PV) system and related infrastructure on 2,000 hectares tribe reservation, 30 miles north of Las Vegas. The project is expected to be about 400 top construction and 15-20 permanent jobs generate.

K road Moapa solar LLC proposed by the project in three phases of each 100-150 megawatts would be built. In addition included for PV Panel array project 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line components deliver electricity to the power grid and a 12 kV transmission line to the existing Moapa Travel Plaza, after phase 1 is completed. About 12 hectares of U.S. public land managed by the Bureau of land management would be required for the 500 kV transmission lines. The project will finance income for the tribe to generate, create new jobs and opportunities for members and connect the existing root items owned travel Plaza to the electrical grid, reducing the dependence on a diesel-powered generator. In order to minimize and mitigate potential environmental impacts, a Desert tortoise translocation plan, a bird and bat strategy to maintain and weed management plan is implemented, and biologists are natural resources monitoring during all surface disturbing activities perform. See press release of the Interior Department.

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First commercial product meets air conditioning on the roof challenge

The Department of energy announced on 24 may Daikin McQuay rebel roof system of units is the first DOE rooftop unit (RTU) challenge. Five manufacturers - Daikin McQuay, carrier, Lennox, 7AC technologies and Rheem - participate in this challenge, high-efficiency commercial air conditioning systems to market, a DOE-issued specification for to meet the saving of energy and power. If built to meet the specification, these units are expected to reduce energy consumption by as much as 50%, compared to units built to current standards. If the specification meets all 10-20 tons of RTUs companies more than energy costs save $1 billion annually would nationwide. Five companies have until 1 April 2013, a product for which to submit independent evaluation according to the specification.

Manufacturers nationwide have a strong motivation to produce highly energy-efficient air conditioners for commercial buildings. Members in DOE commercial building energy alliances (CBEA), such as target, Wal-Mart, and other participating commercial builders have expressed an interest in the equipment that meets the new energy-efficiency specification at an affordable price. The Department of energy examines potential demo sites for high-performance products that the challenge of RTU and is precise company for a the development of analytical tools, with which the energy estimation and cost savings with high RTUs in their facilities. The specification for the RTU challenge, to promote the launch of low-cost, high-performance commercial RTU air-conditioning systems was developed by DOE technical experts and informed by industry partners. See attention progress the Department of energy and the CBEA website.

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