January 18, 1970
Muskie backs Passamaquoddy tidal project
President Muskie announced his support yesterday for a plan to build a tidally-powered power station in his home state of Maine. He claims that the plant will help meet the nation’s growing energy needs in the absence of nuclear power.
“The ‘Quoddy’ project is a dream which has never died and our current energy shortage has rekindled interest in tidal power as an alternative to fossil fuel and nuclear power generation,” said Muskie. “For generations, government and industry have naively based our nation's energy policies upon the apparent assumption that fossil fuels could be obtained in inexpensive, unlimited quantities for an indefinite period into the future. Those who looked beyond fossil fuels, saw nuclear power as the best alternative without, until recently, comprehending the costs to our environment and health.” [1]
The Passamaquoddy Bay Tidal Power Station, as it will be called, will be built near the town of Eastport, Maine. The idea was first proposed in 1919 and authorized by the Congress in the 1930's. Work on the site was halted shortly before the outbreak of World War II. In 1961, then-Senator Muskie revived interest in the project, urging President Kennedy to give it serious attention. A report was produced on the feasibility of the project. [2]
The plan calls for the construction of dams and spillways that would divide Passamaquoddy Bay, an upper pool to hold the high tide, from Cobscook Bay, a lower pool which would drain at low tide. Power will be generated as water flows between the two pools. The design of the tidal power station will be based on the Rance Tidal Power Station, which was built in France in 1966. [3]
The plan opens the door to other “alternative energy” projects that would harness the power of the wind and sun to produce electricity. While the technology to practically produce power from such sources remains years away, by 1979, 5% of the power production of the United States may be produced by wind turbines. [4]