Orbital to Supply Floating Tidal Energy Turbine for Washington State Project
.At the end of the Phase 1 term, one of the two organizations will be funded to move forward with development of a full project.If it becomes the organization chosen at the end of the 10-month process, OPALCO proposes deployment of an Orbital O2 floating tidal energy turbine in Rosario Strait in the San Juan Islands to provide a local power supply, with further assessment set to be completed as part of Phase 1.The Rosario Strait was identified as a viable site with strong tidal flows in proximity to OPALCO infrastructure for interconnection, with minimal environmental impacts.“It’s positive
US Invests Nearly $16 Million to Advance Marine Energy
and installation of one or more tidal energy devices that can be transitioned to a commercial project.The selected projects are:• A team led by Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO), based in Eastsound, Washington, proposes to deploy a tidal energy turbine in Rosario Strait in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. The device is expected to be capable of producing about 2MW of power. OPALCO aims to develop a pilot tidal power program to provide a reliable and resilient local power supply for San Juan Islanders.• A team led by ORPC, based in Portland, Maine, aims to deploy two
Newborn Killer Whale Presumed Dead in Washington
using whistles and pulsed calls and maintain group cohesion or "pods" through their lifetime, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Threats to the population include pollution and overfishing of their major food source, chinook salmon, near the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea. The whales also have been hurt by vessel noise and military exercises using sonar, artillery and bombs that can upset their underwater communications and foraging behavior, according to the Center for Whale Research. (Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere, Editing by Alex
NOAA Begins Hydrographic Survey Season
the harbor when currents are strong. Additionally, one of NOAA's hydrographic services contractors will survey Bechevin Bay, the easternmost passage through the Aleutians from the Bering Sea to the Gulf of Alaska. Before heading to Alaska, the Fairweather will survey south of Washington's San Juan Islands and investigate reported shoaling in Friday Harbor. Coast Survey's navigation response teams (NRTs), small 2- or 3-person boats equipped with both multibeam and side scan sonar systems, are acquiring data to address possible charting discrepancies - data that is outdated or wrong - and other
February 2024
