On March 11, 2008, Tidewalker Associates filed a preliminary permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposing to study the feasibility of a tidal power project to be located in the Lubec Narrows. The proposed Quoddy Roads Project would consist of 179 sea-current generating units having a total installed capacity of 37.95 megawatts, proposed transmission line, and appurtenant facilities. The Tidewalker project would have an average annual generation of 82.34 gigawatt-hours, which would be sold to a local utility.

The Quoddy Roads site is southeast of the Lubec Channel Lighthouse and located in U.S. waters. Tidewalker Associates applicant Normand Laberge of Trescott says, "We are interested in the hydrokinetic aspects of the project. Hydrokinetic power projects generate electricity exclusively from moving water such as river currents, tidal currents and ocean currents without having to construct dams, impoundments or conduits."

On August 5, FERC issued a notice of preliminary permit applications accepted for filing and announced that it is soliciting comment, motions to intervene and competing applications. The deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing application or notice of intent to file competing applications is within 60 days from the issuance of the August 5 notice. Comments may be filed electronically via the Internet or by paper file mailed to Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, FERC 888 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20426.

Tidewalker Associates is the second company to file with FERC for a tidal energy project in the Lubec Narrows. Hydro Green Energy LLC, a Houston renewable energy project developer and technology integrator that designs, builds and operates hydrokinetic power projects, has applied for a preliminary permit from FERC to study the feasibility of a proposed project to be located in the Lubec Narrows north of the Lubec bridge, approximately a mile and a half from the Tidewalker site.