Tidal Energy Project Delayed

The Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project (RITE), which plans to sink a field of electricity-generating turbines in the east channel north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge, is facing another in a series of delays.

This time, according to Trey Taylor of Verdant Power, it's a sport-fishing charter-boat captain who has stepped forward to claim that the exact spot for the project's installation of a study field consisting of a "six-pack" of underwater blades is one of his primary fishing holes. "He has stirred up the striped bass fishing community of New York," Taylor says. "They are not particularly concerned about fish kills or fish migration problems. They are concerned about not being able to have access to their fishing grounds."

Taylor continues, reporting on a meeting held with some of the fishermen, "Their fear is that if our turbines are installed at this one spot, then it is only a matter of time before our turbines are installed in other spots around New York City and Long Island Sound."

The immediate issue is the Verdant Power plan for an environmental test that will involve monitoring the designated study field both before and after installation of the initial six turbines. The period for public comment on the plan, which had already been extended to the end of May, has now been extended - at Verdant's request as it attempts to show good faith - to the end of June. Presuming no further extensions, and presuming smooth sailing in getting permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the group of six turbines could be installed starting no earlier than September and October. That would be followed by a period of up to 18 months of observation and study.

In the test period, power from the Verdant turbines would be fed into the electric power grid, but would be used for the power needs of Gristede's market.

The allure of the project is low-cost power wherever substantial quantities of water flow, in rivers and tidal areas. Taylor and his team anticipate the possibility of isolated communities along rivers in Africa and South America getting electricity for the first time. In coastal areas like New York City, the power generated by tides could reduce the need for fossil-fuel-powered generation. In the final field of about 100 turbines planned for the east shore of Roosevelt Island, about 1.4 acres of bottom would be used. Nothing would appear above the water's surface; small craft could pass above the field.

While progress here is being held up, Verdant is looking at opportunities to test and demonstrate its technology in other countries. "We are working with the United Kingdom and Brazil for projects in their countries," Taylor says. "The UK has a five-megawatt site for us in Scotland, and we are currently putting financial packages together with the British to get us into Scotland by next spring."

He adds, "We will keep working on New York, but there will come a point where it will no longer make economic sense for us to do so, if the project continues to be delayed the way it has become delayed."

Verdant plans a meeting on the Island next week with some interested members of the community, in hopes of finding ways to move the project forward.