02/23/2007: "Tidal Energy Project Permit Submitted"

Snohomish County's Public Utility District (SCPUD), the second largest public utility in the Pacific Northwest, has submitted an application for a "preliminary permit" to conduct a study of the feasibility of a number of tidal energy projects in San Juan County . The proposal, if approved, would allow SCPUD to do a number of things in SJC in order to conduct the study, including "site selection; equipment selection; design, performance and cost estimates of both a demonstration test installation and a commercial scale plant". The total cost of the study could exceed $6,000,000. San Juan County government may not be as helpful in this as they could be, since there will little to no benefit to the county.

The application states that in conducting the study, the utility will take "into account impacts on the environment, the aesthetic beauty, and commercial and recreational opportunities in and around Spieden Channel." If the study should lead to a decision to go forward with the actual project, the power generated will be primarily for Snohomish County, which has over 350,000 customers, with annual energy costs of $361,486.000.00

Due to federal and state regulations that encourage development of pilot projects and alternative energy, utility districts are active in their pursuit of these programs. Currently there are ten projects proposed in the Puget Sound area. Read related Spieden Channel Proposal Documents