Tidal Project of Snohomish County PUD receives Federal Grant of $10 Million

The Snohomish County PUD (Public Utility District) has received a federal grant to the extent of $10 million towards a tidal power project from the U.S. DOE (Department of Energy).

Matching the grant, the PUD will be contributing its own investment of $10.1 million. Throughout the world, there are only few tidal power projects that are operating, as per PUD officials.

The PUD is leading the way for others to follow in researching this particular innovative energy source, which is another tool for the nation to combat climate change while striving towards attaining energy independence. The PUD had applied for the grant under a competitive process.

This PUD grant will be covering two large-sized tidal turbines. It is expected that the two turbines would be generating 1 MW of energy during the peak times while averaging 100 kW of energy, sufficient to power around 700 homes. The PUD expects to install the tidal turbines at this Admiralty Inlet tidal project and hopes to get the project operating in two years time, by 2012.