New Brunswick Government seeking research proposals for tidal energy
Friday, 01 February 2008
FREDERICTON (CNB) - Natural Resources Minister Donald Arseneault has issued a request for proposals (RFP) as a follow-up to the Interim Policy on Allocation of Crown Lands for Research in Support of In-Stream Tidal Power Generation.
"There are many traditional users of the Bay of Fundy, and we do not want to disrupt their ways of life," Arseneault said. "This is why we have taken this cautious approach to allowing access to submerged Crown lands for research in support of tidal power."
The interim policy released by the Department of Natural Resources in October 2007 allows for research activities to be conducted at specific sites of interest to tidal power developers on the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy. The research must be conducted by scientists and members of the research community, but may be funded and led by an interested developer. The proposed research will focus on such factors as current velocities, directional flows, climactic conditions, natural environment and marine wildlife behaviour.
The RFP will allow tidal power developers to partner with members of the research community to gather site-specific data for 12 months with an option to renew for another 12 months. It will also give the successful proponents the right of first refusal to their site of interest once a final policy on the allocation of Crown land for tidal power is developed by the Department of Natural Resources.
"The important information gathered by the research community on these sites of interest will be valuable in the creation of a final tidal power policy," Arseneault said. "The final policy will take into account the information gathered through the current Strategic Environmental Assessment process being administered by the Department of Energy, as well as the site-specific information gathered through the interim policy.
"We want to proceed with the development of renewable, clean forms of energy, such as tidal power, but we want to ensure that environmental integrity and the interests of traditional industries and users of the Bay of Fundy are respected," said Energy Minister Jack Keir. "It is through departmental co-operation that we hope to achieve these goals, and foster a viable tidal energy industry in New Brunswick."
The Department of Energy recently announced the release of the Background Report for the Fundy Tidal Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment. The report examined existing environmental information, as well as traditional uses of resources and socio-economic impacts in relation to potential development of ocean energy in the Bay of Fundy. The report was written by a team led by Jacques Whitford, and was commissioned through a partnership between the Department of Energy and the Offshore Energy Environmental Research (OEER) Association. A consultation plan for the Strategic Environmental Assessment in New Brunswick is under development, and will be released soon.
"Gathering existing information and identifying information gaps was the logical first step in determining the baseline situation of the Bay of Fundy prior to tidal energy developments in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia," Keir said. "The next steps are stakeholder consultations and further research to clearly define the role tidal energy will play in the future."
Proponents wishing to respond to the RFP will have until March 10 to submit their proposals. A copy of the RFP may be requested from the Department of Supply and Services at 1-800-561-1422.
The Interim Policy on Allocation of Crown Lands for Research in Support of In-Stream Tidal Power Generation may be found online.
The Background Report for the Fundy Tidal Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment may be downloaded in sections from the OEER website.
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