A company called Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Company, LLC has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a wave energy project off of the coast of New Jersey. I want to thank EnviroPolitics Blog for pointing out the application.
Grays Harbor is applying for permission to install 100 Wave Energy Converters (WEC) of the coast of New Jersey. Each WEC would generate 1 megawatt each. They are planned somewhere between 12 to 25 miles of Atlantic City in Federal waters. The power cables would then feed in to the grid for use by A.C. and New Jersey in general. This would be the second WEC project off of the coast of Atlantic City. One of the very interesting things about the application is Grays’ proposal that they be granted additional power generation so that Grays can install wind turbines on the WECs down the line. This would increase the generation capacity of the facility.
According to Grays Harbor application they plan to do their environmental studies in 2009 and then apply for a 5 MW five year FERC license by 2010. The first phase of the project would be installed in 2011. They proposed to then apply for a FERC license for the full 100 MW and install it by 2016. The total project is expected to cost $400 to $600 million.
Another interesting aspect of Grays Harbor proposal is that it seems to be part of a larger plan that Grays Harbor is pursuing concurrently.
I will have to take a look at the application a little more closely and Grays Harbor. Also, I have not seen much from New Jersey on the application.