Plans filed for underwater electricity generators off Martha's Vineyard

[jpak]

http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2006/06/05/daily17.html

Massachusetts Tidal Energy Co. reportedly has filed plans to create an underwater hydroelectric farm off Martha's Vineyard, powered by up to 150 turbines.

The Washington, D.C., firm has applied for a preliminary permit for its from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, several publications on Cape Cod and the islands reported.

The Cape and Islands Tidal Energy Hydroelectric Project is designed to produce between 25 and 300 megawatts at any point in time, depending on the strength of underwater tidal currents. A megawatt provides power for approximately 750 homes.

Massachusetts Tidal Energy plans to anchor the turbines in waters between 40 feet and 75 feet deep off the southeast Massachusetts coast between Falmouth, Mass., and Vineyard Haven, Mass.

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[napi21]

1. That sounds like a good idea to me. Is there some reason

anyone should not like it?

[endarkenment]

3. Like the cape wind project

the only legitimate issues are environmental impact and private use of public resources. I would expect the usual NIMBY reaction from the wealthy elites who have made the vineyard inaccessible to regular people.

[Warpy]

2. Expect the local wealthy yachtsmen to howl about that one, too

because it will provide more hazard for their overpriced, underused and corporate writeoff sailboats.

I lived there for 10 years. I know them all too well.

[Nihil]

4. They're probably the biggest hazard to the generators too ...

Probably have a competition on who will be the first to
drop their anchor through an inlet ...

[Dead_Parrot]

5. Or get a fishing line caught on one...

"Hey, I got one! Strong suck-- woooooooosh splash gurgle.

(Since I loathe the idea of catching animals just for fun, I look forward to that moment with anticipation)
:evilgrin:

[Nihil]

6. Or a Darwin Award competition for divers ...

... "Bet I can swim closer to the inlet than you!"
:evilgrin: