Talk of renewable energy is always on the table in Alaskan conversation.
We recently asked Joe Gallagher with Homer Electric Association for an update on their relationship with Ocean Renewable Power Company.
Gallagher: “To look at the tides in Cook Inlet and see if there’s a possibility of making those tides work for tidal energy, at this point, it’s all still just in stages where there’s many studies taking place, I know that ORPC has a couple of pilot projects that they’re looking out possibly on the Aleutian chain and some of the communities out there and Cook Inlet is on their agenda as well. Right now tidal energy is still in it’s infancy but if it ever comes to the point where tidal energy is an actual way of producing power I think Cook Inlet would be a perfect place for it but there’s still so much work to be done before it can actually be ready for the grid.”
In 2011 Ocean Renewable partnered with Homer Electric Association in order to collaborate on the project that could potentially produce five megawatts of power for approximately 2,300 Kenai Peninsula homes.
