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Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), along with a consortium of tidal energy‑related businesses and developers, including the European Marine Energy Center, has submitted a request for information (RFI) to the U.S. Department of Energy that could result in Cobscook Bay becoming a site for marine hydrokinetic research and development. ORPC President and CEO Christopher Sauer was on hand at the March 11 Eastport City Council meeting to share the news and update the city on the company's own developments in tidal energy research.
When ORPC heard about the Department of Energy's request, "We thought about Cobscook Bay," Sauer told the council. He explained that a number of favorable factors play into the RFI including that the bay has now been well studied, alleviating those costs from future research and development; has tidal action conducive to tidal research; is a known quantity by regulators; has grid connection if needed; and has people in the region who are experienced in the work of tidal energy development. In addition, Sauer remarked on Eastport and Lubec's welcoming and capable spirit as a "huge advantage" in the proposal's viability. "It wouldn't just be ORPC; others would come in to test units." He added, "It's a research and development opportunity for the area." The congressional delegation is aware of the RFI and is "all over it," Sauer commented.
The timeline is a year to a year and a half. The RFI was submitted in February, and if the Department of Energy is interested it will send out a funding request announcement with a request for a more detailed proposal. The greatest competition that Sauer anticipates is from wave technology test center research development on the West Coast, primarily driven by academia.
Sauer also explained to the council that ORPC is in the development of its newest version of tidal energy devices, which instead of using metal caging will be using a tension mooring system. "The new development is pretty exciting," he said of the improvement to the technology. "I'm confident the new system will be financially viable in the third quarter of 2016," the target date for water launching and testing of the new model in Western Passage. "We should see significant ramp‑up of activity, hopefully leading to build‑out in Western Passage."
The company has not been without its bumps over the last year or so. Sauer explained that because of the drop in natural gas prices, funding for other types of energy development has dropped off. "Raising money is very hard these days," he said, but while it is taking longer than he had hoped, he is optimistic. "As a result we've had to streamline," with staff reductions in Eastport, Portland and Alaska.
Police enforcement sought
During the portion of the council meeting dedicated to public hearings on liquor licenses and special entertainment licenses, resident Jan Finley noted that there had been a number of complaints over the last few years about one of the businesses on the list. Council President Mary Repole said that, while it was entirely her own opinion, she felt that it was a matter of police enforcement. "We have laws and they need to be enforced." Repole asked that Police Chief Frannie LaCoute review the past complaints report, with Councillor Gilbert Murphy suggesting, "I think we should leave it in Frannie's hands." The police chief suggested that the simplest solution might be to go in and discuss some of the issues with the establishment's owners, put up no parking signs on one side of the street and tow vehicles that block residential driveways, and visit the establishment during operating hours to monitor noise and other issues. City attorney Dennis Mahar said, "Where there's been a documented problem you can certainly go in and discuss it with the owners."
The police chief will also be working with City Manager Elaine Abbott on researching two alternate sites for the police department: the upgraded fire station and the former superintendent's building near the elementary school. Currently the police department is located in the former A&P building located at the corner of Washington and Water streets. Councillor Colleen Dana‑Cummings remarked that because the long‑term plan is for the police to move out of its current location, she recommended that LaCoute hold off on any work on the current location.
Other business
The council gave its permission for the airport committee, through the city, to purchase a GARD system, which is used to count flight traffic in and out of the airport. The cost of $3,200 will be fully covered by a state grant.
The sewer department will purchase a sewer pump truck with a five‑year loan of $19,100 in annual payments. The department anticipates that this will result in savings of about $9,000 per year because it costs the city $28,000 per year to contract out the pump work.
The city will implement a third‑party request form to be used by any organization seeking a donation from the city. Currently the city only provides funds to two third‑parties, the Peavey Memorial Library and the Senior Center. The new form will require a percentage of signatures and will "help to formalize the process," explained Abbott. It will also require financial documents, an explanation of need, and will help the council understand which of the third party requests are supported by the city's residents.
On the subject of nonprofits, Dana‑Cummings brought up the use of a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program for the city. She and assessor Robert Scott explained that nonprofits utilize municipal services but because they are exempt from property taxes do not pay for the services provided. Resident Jan Finley commented that the city is facing "huge, huge" infrastructure problems with a barebones budget, and not everyone understood the city's financial difficulties. The PILOT would be voluntary, not mandatory, Scott added. The council's motion to have Abbott reach out to all the city's nonprofits resulted in a tie vote with no action taken to proceed.
While the city may be struggling financially, it is not without its supporters waiting in the wings to help those less fortunate. Abbott told the council that a $500 donation had come in from a seasonal resident to help the city's fuel fund. The funds will be turned over to the GEECA Community Fuel Assistance Fund for disbursement.
Deer, always hovering around the background ready to spring out on unsuspecting citizens, were brought up by Abbott. The city manager has been in discussion with state wildlife biologist Steve Schaeffer about the island's deer population. She relayed that Eastport is in district 27, an area that still has a shortage of does. If the bow season were extended it would have to be for the whole district, which made the extension unlikely. However, it is possible that a small number of "any deer" permits could be issued for the month of October during bow hunting season. Schaeffer will be discussing the idea with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to see if this would pass muster for the district.
Jenie Smith has been appointed as a full‑time member of the downtown committee. Kendall Ziegler and Paul Cox have been appointed as alternate members to the FY2016 budget committee. Robin Farrin has been appointed to the recycling committee. During the month of February, the police department had 77 calls for service, and the code enforcement office received one demolition permit application for a tumbled down property on Battery Street.
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