Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC

Potential Tidal Power for New Jersey 2010-15Sponsored by NJDOT and UTRC

Project Report 140-02

Developing a New Jersey Statewide Tidal Energy System:Preliminary Assessment of Sites and Site Factors

Roger BasonStephen CarnahanNancy Makofka

February 17, 2011Contact Information: 845-691-4008 (O), rbason@naturalcurrents.com

NJDOT 2010-15

IntroductionThis report presents a preliminary list of potential tidal energy sites in New Jersey. It may be revised as alter-

native sites are evaluated and compared with advanced computer modeling of New Jersey coastline tidal

flows now in progress. The final list will form the basis for a proposed New Jersey Tidal Energy System (TES).

This statewide evaluation of tidal energy sites is developed in response to the NJDOT Office of Research RFP

2010-15 that was awarded on May 1, 2010. The project seeks to identify twenty (20) potential tidal energy

sites that may provide for economically feasible, fully permitted electric power production using available or

soon to be available commercial technology. Under the same research effort, these locations are to be in-

cluded in a fine mesh, high-resolution supercomputer model of tidal flux along the New Jersey coastline1 to

provide additional details to advance site identification for tidal energy projects. Project fieldwork requiring

collaboration between Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC (Natural Currents) and the Department of Engi-

neering, CUNY will further validate computer model accuracy, utility and value for replication in other regions.

Mandates. This effort supports the critical goals of both the NJ Energy Master Plan (NJ EMP) and the

Global Warming Response Act (GWRA) for NJ to generate 20% or more of its energy needs from renewable

sources by 2020. Table-1 presents the Potential New Jersey Tidal Energy Sites list that serves as a prelimi-

nary offering to be adjusted depending on evolving site development priorities, field test results, computer

modeling and other significant factors influencing system installations. In general, this project stage presents

potential sites with known higher speed tidal currents located in generally commercial areas including active

ports, locations near highway and railroad bridges, canals, tidal inlets, marinas, shoreline private properties

and other commercially active waterways. Other factors influencing installation include public acceptance,

engineering advances, environmental concerns, stakeholder consensus, and results of detailed site studies

as well as regional political and economic factors.

Eco-Exclusion Zones. In addition to the preliminary list of potential tidal energy sites, pristine natural

areas or areas that are protected by environmental regulation are also identified. These include areas identi-

fied as environmentally sensitive that define ecological exclusion zones (referenced as Eco-Exclusion Zones)

that separate priority areas for tidal energy development from sensitive environmental areas. While tidal en-

ergy systems are generally regarded as the least environmentally intrusive form of electric power generation,

Eco-Exclusion Zones exist due to concerns expressed by regulatory agencies, environmental groups, inter-

ested stakeholders or direct legal protection. Tidal energy sites may eventually include some Eco-Exclusion

Zones as field evidence providing greater detail on proven effects of tidal turbine operation sheds light on

environmental impacts and safety. Protocols for evaluating site-specific impacts include baseline measure-

ments as well as post installation monitoring of 20 different parameters. This Baseline Environmental Monitor-

ing (BEM) plan, vetted by the USACE and NMFS, is summarized in Table-2.

NJDOT 2010-15

Tidal Power Value. As the global paradigm for sustainability continues to define our present era, de-

velopment of ocean related renewable energy systems continues to move to the forefront of discussion, de-

bate and energy planning. A critical point in this discussion is that among all forms of renewable energy in-

cluding solar and wind power, none are as predictable as the constant and regular movement of the tides

and thus the resulting potential production of tidal electric power. Not only are tidal flows predictable; the dis-

patched power resulting from transforming the tidal flux into electricity provides excellent base load power.

This is because peak generation from the changing tidal state hour by hour is sequenced along the length of

a regional coastline, providing constant power to the grid.

Statewide System. Design of the future statewide system of tidal energy for New Jersey must include

both a technical analysis of feasibility and a method to “ground truth” the high-resolution computer models to

be developed by the CUNY Department of Engineering Team during 2011. A Statewide TES also requires the

support of significant sectors of communities and stakeholders impacted by these systems through efforts to

improve public understanding. Thus public information, popular support and stakeholder consensus are as

critical to the overall success of its accomplishment as technology development and tidal modeling. This

achievement, once completed, will provide a significant contribution to the legal mandates of the NJ Energy

Master Plan and the Global Warming Response Act requiring 20% of all power generation used in New Jer-

sey to come from renewable energy sources.

Preliminary List of Potential NJ Tidal Energy Sites While the general coastline of New Jersey2 is measured as 130 miles (209 km), the length of the actual tidal

shoreline is 1,792 miles (2,884 km). The tidal shoreline measured as the shoreline of outer coast, offshore

islands, sounds, bays, rivers, and creeks is included to the head of tidewater, or to the point where tidal wa-

ters narrow to a width of 100 feet (30.5m). The tidal shoreline as measured in this manner is most represen-

tative of the range of potential deployment for both small and large-scale tidal energy technology.

An evaluation of the geomorphology of the New Jersey coastline was combined with a review of 2010 tide

tables 3, interviews of knowledgeable mariners much experienced traveling these waterways and Acoustic

Doppler Profiler (ADP) field measurements to determine this preliminary list of potential tidal sites. Adjust-

ments will be made upon collaboration with the Department of Engineering Team from CUNY and corrobora-

tion of the modeling results. This will include targeted ADP field measurements along the New Jersey tidal

shoreline at these and other sites that may result in appropriate changes and adjustments in the final list of

20 selected sites.

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Table-1. Potential New Jersey Tidal Energy SitesFebruary 1, 2011 rev.

Site # / Name Waterway Lat / Lon Comments Results01-Highlands Shrewsbury River 40.40 – 79.97 FERC Permit # 13725 2 days data02-Belmar Shark River 40.18 – 74.02 Site at City of Belmar

MarinaMonmouth data

03-Hoffman’s - Brielle Manasquan River 40.11 – 74.05 FERC Permit # 13682 1 day data04-Will’s Hole – PPBeach

Manasquan River 40.10 – 74.04 FERC Permit # 13247, DPL, WD, SCP

2 days data

05-Pt. Pleasant Canal Pt. Pleasant Canal 40.07 – 74.06 NJ Maritime Police Station

06-Barnegat Light Barnegat Inlet 39.76 – 74.10 NJDOT07-Atlantic City-Margate Bridge

Beach Thorofare 39.38 – 74.42 Margate Bridge – Pri-vate Owner

08-Egg Harbor Rt. 673 Inter Coastal 39.29 – 74.56 NJDOT09-Sea Isle Rt. 625 Inter Coastal 39.15 – 74.70 NJDOT10-Cape May Rt. 619 Inter Coastal 39.02 – 74.79 NJDOT11-Shawcrest Rt. 47 Inter Coastal 38.98 – 74.83 NJDOT12-Cape May Rt. 621 Inter Coastal 38.95 – 74.87 NJDOT13-USCG Training Center

Inter Coastal 38.95 – 74.87 USCG Station

14-Cape May Canal Inter Coastal 38.95 – 74.90 NJDOT15-Cape May Canal RR Bridge

Cape May Canal 38.96 – 74.92 Short Line Rail Road Bridge

16-Cape May Canal Rt. 162

Cape May Canal 38.96 – 74.92 NJDOT

17-Port Norris Maurice River 39.23 – 75.00 Municipal18-Greenwich Pier Cohansey River 39.38 – 75.35 Municipal19-Hancock Harbor Cohansey River 39.37 – 75.36 Private Marina20-Salem City Salem River 39.58 – 75.48 FERC Permit # 13849,

NJDOT

Comments Legend:FERC Permit – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Preliminary Permit Application reserves siteDPL – Draft Pilot License with FERC, enables power line interconnection and sale of power to gridWD – Waterfront Development permit from NJDEPSCP – Scientific Collecting Permit from both NJDEP and NJ Division of Fish &Wildlife

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Potential Sites. Map-1 identifies potential site locations along the coastline and estuarine rivers of New

Jersey. Factors considered in making this evaluation include areas that generally favor a greater industrial or

active commercial use. These areas include sites that have relatively short distances to grid interconnections

with locations generally less than 500 yards (~450m) from a transformer or power pole connection. The se-

lected sites represent a variety of location characteristics and include ports, areas near highway and railroad

bridges, canals, tidal inlets, marinas, shoreline private properties and commercial waterways. Special atten-

tion has been paid to sites that may enable the project sponsors, including the NJ Department of Transporta-

tion, Office of Research and Office of Maritime Resources to site tidal turbines on properties owned by the

State of New Jersey or administered by the NJDOT. Such properties include the NJ Transit railroad bridges,

highway bridges and other shoreline areas such as bulkheads, docks or marinas. Other factors influencing

tidal system installation include public acceptance, engineering performance, environmental concerns,

stakeholder consensus, and results of detailed site investigations as well as political and economic factors.

Map-1. Map of Preliminary List for Potential Tidal Energy Sites in New Jersey

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Eco-Exclusion Zones – Areas Excluded from Tidal Energy Development

To streamline and focus the process of site selection for a New Jersey statewide tidal energy system, key site

factors must be present at selected locations. First and foremost, the speed of the tidal or related river or

canal currents must exceed 4 knots (2m/sec) for a significant portion of the tidal cycle. If the speed of 4

knots (2m/sec) is not reached, then effective tidal energy development is not feasible, given the present state

of tidal electric technology development. Technology design innovations may enable a wider range of tidal

current speeds for tidal power development at some future date, but as of Q1-2011, a current speed of 2 to

4 m / second is considered an optimal range of water speed for known technologies. Spatial considerations

are also a factor for tidal power installation sites. Understanding the size and shape of navigational channels

and the flow of tidal currents in and around docks, jetties, bulkheads, bridge footings and other shoreline

infrastructure is an important factor. The distance of a potential location for tidal turbine installation to the

point of interconnection with the electrical grid is also a determining factor. Power line development has in-

herent costs for permits, labor, materials and maintenance. Reduced distances to power line connections

enable significant savings in both time and cost.

Many stakeholders express concerns about the potential environmental impact of tidal electric turbines.

While there is much anecdotal evidence that environmental impacts of tidal energy systems are very minimal,

proof of minimal impacts is required for widespread acceptance. Federal, state and local level permits now

require significant proactive steps to provide baseline monitoring of potential tidal energy impacts at given

sites. Natural Currents has completed a rigorous review of the international scientific literature4 to evaluate

potential impacts of tidal turbines at proposed locations. After baseline monitoring is completed, ongoing site

monitoring is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a period of up to five (5)

years. During this time, reporting is required by FERC with regular review of environmental impacts. Sites that

demonstrate adverse environmental impacts may be required to be moved to another location or removed

from operation. The Natural Currents Baseline Environmental Monitoring (BEM) Plan has been vetted with

and approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the National Marine Fisheries Service

(NMFS) during 2010 and Q1-2011. Table-2 presents the Natural Currents’ Baseline Environmental Monitoring

Program Summary.

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Table-2. Natural Currentsʼ Baseline Environmental Monitoring Program SummaryMonitoring Parameters, Methods and Materials

A. Aquatic Ecology Monitoring Methods and Materials

A-1. Marine Mammals Observation Log, Literature, CameraA-2. Turtles / Seabirds Observation Log, Literature, CameraA-3. Threatened and Endangered Species Observation Log, Literature, CameraA-4. Migratory and Resident Fish Trawl, Fyke or Gill Nets, Minnow Traps, Computer Log, Digital

Sonar, UW Video B. Bathymetry and Benthos

B-1. Seabed Characterization Ponar Grabs, CameraB-2. Marine Sediment Analysis Lab Grain Size Analysis, Organic Content, CameraB-3. Bathymetric Survey Sea Swath Plus 488kHz High-Resolution Sonar and Side ScanB-4. Diver Benthic Survey Diver and UW Sea Viewer VideoC. Water Quality Analysis

C-1 to C-7 DO, pH, Turbidity, Salinity, DS, N, P DO, pH, Chemical Water Quality ProbeD. Physical Elements

D-1. Temperature ThermometerD-2. Tidal Current Speed, Direction, Depth ADP System (Sontek and or NortekUSA Aquadopp Pro)D-3. Latitude - Longitude Geo Positioning System (GPS)E. Noise and EMF

E-1. Electro Magnetic Force (EMF) Gauss Meter, Micro Volt MeterE-2. Noise Marine Hydro PhonesSummary – Field Computers Data Summary Computer Tablets and Communications Devices

The monitoring process for site-specific evaluation of potential tidal energy sites is described in Table-2.

These factors identify pre- and post-installation impacts in areas immediately adjacent (within 100m) to po-

tential site locations. To enable a more general view of Eco-Zones that exclude broad areas of the tidal

shoreline from potential tidal energy site locations Table-3 and Map-2 to Map-6 are presented. These include

zones in New Jersey that are considered pristine natural areas or have a particularly sensitive ecology. These

Eco-Exclusion Zones consist of wild and scenic rivers, pristine areas, areas protected by legal mandates,

and scenic protected (SPW) waters.

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Table-3. Eco-Exclusion Zones - Tidal Energy Sites due to Environmental Sensitivity February 1, 2011 rev.

Site # / Name Waterway Lat / Lon Comments – County / Location ADelaware Water Gap Nat’l Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap

41 07’ 24” N74 54’ 57” W

Sussex and Warren County, NJ

BNew Jersey Pinelands National Reserves (Wharton State Forest)

Batsto RiverMullica River

39 42’ 47” N74 43’ 24” W

Burlington, Ocean, Atlantic, Camden, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, and Glouster County, NJ

CMaurice River, NJ

Maurice River 39 18’ 15” N74 56’ 39 W

Cape May and Cumberland County, NJ

DManumuskin River Preserve

Manumuskin River

39 18’ 34” N74 59’ 28” W

Cumberland County,NJ

EWallkill River N.W.R.

Wallkill River 41 07’ 10” N74 36’ 26” W

Sussex County, NJ

FMusconetcong State Park

Musconetcong River

40 36’ 53” N75 09’ 06” W

Sussex County, NJ

GBombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware Bay 39 03’ 05” N75 16’ 39” W

Kent County, DE

HGreat Egg Harbor River, NJ

Great Egg Har-bor

39 37’ 25” N75 15’ 46” W

Camden

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16

U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a

free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The Act is notable for safeguard-

ing the special character of these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for their appropriate use and

development. It encourages river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public partici-

pation in developing goals for river protection.

Listed in Table-3 with locations identified in Map-2 are Wild and Scenic Rivers in New Jersey. These areas

are excluded from the list of preliminary tidal energy site locations.

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Map-2. Eco-Exclusion Zones – Tidal Energy Sites due to Environmental Sensitivity

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Map-3. Eco-Exclusion Zone - Pinelands Protection Act Areas

Efforts by concerned citizens, scientists and political leaders led the US Congress to pass § 502 of the fed-

eral National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 and New Jersey to pass the Pinelands Protection Act of

1979. These laws created the Pinelands National Reserve and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.

Adopted by the Pinelands Commission in 1980, the Comprehensive Management Plan regulates where de-

velopment can take place by creating conservation and growth zones and applying stringent environmental

standards. These areas are excluded from the preliminary list of potential tidal energy sites in New Jersey.

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Map-4. Eco-Exclusion Zone – Critical Environmental and Historic Sites (CEHS)

The CEHS file was created to help implement the goals of the New Jersey State Plan. To protect and man-

age the state's large areas of natural and environmentally significant resources, the State Plan Policy Map

relies on the Environmentally Sensitive/Rural Planning Area and the Environmentally Sensitive Planning Area

to direct development into Centers. But there are many environmentally sensitive features and landscapes of

historic or aesthetic significance that are less than one square mile in extent or whose configuration does not

readily permit application of the Policy Objectives of these Planning Areas. Additionally, many sites of historic,

cultural, scenic or environmental sensitivity lie within developed areas or within Metropolitan, Suburban or

Fringe Planning Areas. The Critical Environmental Sites (CES) and Historic and Cultural Sites (HCS) designa-

tions are used to help organize planning for new development or redevelopment by singling out the elements

of natural systems, small areas of habitat, historic sites, and other features that should continue to be ex-

pressed in the future landscape through protection and restoration. The proposed preliminary list of tidal en-

ergy sites does not include any area on the CEHS List.

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Map-5. Eco-Exclusion Zone – NJ Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act Areas

The Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, N.J.S.A. 13:20-1 et seq. protects drinking water for over

5.4 million people and helps preserve New Jersey's dwindling open space. Mapped areas provide informa-

tion to assist homeowners, property owners, builders, and municipalities in determining if a project is located

in the Highlands Region, what exemption criteria may apply, and development standards that may be re-

quired.

The Highlands rules implement the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act signed on August 10, 2004.

The rules incorporate the requisite standards of various land use, water resource and environmental protec-

tion statutes and establish a consolidated Highlands permitting review and approval process for activities

constituting major projects. The proposed preliminary tidal energy sites are not included in this mandated

protection area.

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Map-6. Eco-Exclusion Zone - NJ Meadowlands Development Commission

Kearny

NorthArlington

Lyndhurst

Rutherford

Secaucus

Jersey City

East Rutherford

Carlstadt

Moonachie

Teterboro

SouthHackensack

Little Ferry Ridgefield

NorthBergen

INSET B

INSET C

INSET D

INSET A

RA-4

RA-3

RA-2

RA-6

RA-1

RA-7

RA-5

RA-8

RA-9

RA-10

New Jersey Meadowlands CommissionZoning Map

Hackensack Meadowlands District

INSET A

New Jersey Meadowlands Commission 1 DeKorte Park Plaza Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 Phone: (201) 460-1700 Fax: (201) 372-0161 Website: www.njmeadowlands.gov

INSET B INSET C INSET D

ZONES

SCALE 1" = 4000'

INSET OF NEW JERSEY

DISTRICT LOCATION MAP

New Jersey

Meadowlands Commission

Geographic Information Systems

HackensackMeadowlands District

WATER

ROADS, RAILROADS, TRANSMISSION LINES, ETC.

RIGHTS OF WAY

RA-1 VINCENT PLACERA-2 PATERSON PLANK ROADRA-3 HIGHLAND CROSSRA-4 GOLF COURSERA-5 BELLEVILLE TURNPIKERA-6 KEARNYRA-7 TRANSIT VILLAGERA-8 16TH STREETRA-9 LYNDHURST BLOCK 228, LOT 3RA-10 ROUTE 3 EAST

!

BLOCK LIMIT LINE

LOT LIMIT LINE

Notes:

This map is an excerpt of the zoning map of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC). For verification of actual zoning designations, it may be necessary to refer to the original of this map, which is on display in the Office of the NJMC.

Parcel configurations on this map reflect lot lines taken from municipal tax maps. Some areas may not show current subdivisions. For further information, please contact the NJMC.

AVIATION FACILITIES (AF)

COMMERCIAL PARK (CP)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (EC)

HEAVY INDUSTRIAL (HI)

HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL (HC)

INTERMODAL A (IA)

INTERMODAL B (IB)

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL A (LI-A)

LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (LDR)

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (NC)

PARKS AND RECREATION (PA)

PLANNED RESIDENTIAL (PR)

PUBLIC UTILITIES (PU)

REGIONAL COMMERCIAL (RC)

SPORTS & EXPOSITION (SE)

TRANSPORTATION CENTER (TC)

WATERFRONT RECREATION (WR)

REDEVELOPMENT AREA (RA)

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL B (LI-B)

NJMC DISTRICT BOUNDARY

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is the zoning and planning agency for a 30.4-square-mile area

along the Hackensack River covering parts of 14 municipalities in Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jer-

sey.

The Hackensack Meadowlands Reclamation and Development Act (N.J.S.A. 13:17-1 et seq), effective Jan.

13, 1969, recognizes the importance of the Meadowlands as a unique place for new jobs, thriving communi-

ties and recreational opportunities in New Jersey. The Act created the Hackensack Meadowlands Develop-

ment Commission (HMDC). The agency was renamed the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission on Aug.

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27, 2001. None of the preliminary list of potential tidal energy sites are located within the jurisdiction of the NJ

Meadowlands Commission. Further research and site evaluations will be performed that may indicate poten-

tial sites along the Passaic and Hackenasack Rivers that are know to have strong river and or tidal currents.

This area is particularly industrial in its nature and may have sites along the river marinas, docks and bulk-

heads. Most of the legal mandates concern zoning regulations.

Public Support and Stakeholder Outreach

The development of a New Jersey Statewide Tidal Energy System requires the support of significant sectors

of communities and stakeholders . This support is best built through efforts to improve public understanding

and stakeholder outreach. Thus public information, popular support and stakeholder consensus are as criti-

cal to the development and overall success of a Statewide TES as technology development and tidal model-

ing. Table-4 presents stakeholder groups in five areas of interest, and includes (1) Regulatory and Related

Agencies, (2) State and National Environmental Groups, (3) Local Environmental Groups, (4) Governmental

and Educational Resources, and (5) New Jersey Media. Project goals, progress and findings will be shared

with all of these stakeholders during the course of 2011.

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Table-4 New Jersey Stakeholders and Public Support Resources

Group Contact Email / Phone

1-State and National Environmental Groups1.1-New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Dr. Peter Rowan, Sandy Hook, NJ www.njmsc.org, 732-872-13001.2-Institute for Energy and Environ-mental Research

Dr. Arjun Makhijani, Takoma Park, MD www.ieer.org,

1.3-Natural Resources Defense Council Robert Kennedy, Jr. NYC, NY www.nrdc.org, 212-727-27001.4-Nature Conservancy Main Office, Arlington, VA www.nature.org, 703-841-53001.5-New Jersey Environmental Lobby Main Office, Trenton, NJ www.njenvironment.org, 1.6-Sierra Club Dick Colby, Newsletter, Trenton, NJ www.newjersey.sierraclub.org, 1.7-NJ Public Interest Group (NJ-PIRG) Student Chapters Main Office www.njpirgstudents.org, 732-247-81772-Regulatory and Related Agencies

2.1-Federal Energy Regulatory Com-mission (FERC)

Sec Kim Bose, Washington, DC www.ferc.gov, 202-502-6652

2.2-US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Sam Reynolds, USACE-Philadelphia, PA

www.usace.mil, 215-656-5715

2.3-National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Karen Green, NMFS, Sandy Hook, NJ www.nmfs.gov, 732-872-3023

2.4-US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

US EPA Region 2 Office, NYC, NY www.epa.gov,

2.5-NJ Dept of Environmental Protec-tion (NJDEP)

Bob Martin, Commissioner, Trenton, NJ www.njdep.gov,

2.6-NJ State Plan NJ State Plan, Dept Community Affairs www.state.nj.us/dca, 3-Local Environmental Groups

3.1-Alliance for a Living Ocean Main Office, Ship Bottom, NJ www.livingocean.org, 609-494-78003.2- American Littoral Society Main Office, Highlands, NJ www.littoralsociety.org, 732-291-00553.3-Clean Ocean Action Main Office, Highlands, NJ www.cleanoceanaction.org 732-872-

01113.4-Jersey Coast Anglers Association Main Office, Toms River, NJ www.jcaa.org, 732-506-65653.5-Barnegat Bay Watershed and Estu-ary Program

Main Office, Island Heights, NJ www.bbwef.org,

4-Governmental and Educational Resources4.1-Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences

Main Office, New Brunswick, NJ www.imcs.edu, 732-932-6555

4.2-Monmouth Urban Coast Institute Jim Nickles, UCI, West Long Branch, NJ

www.monmouth.edu,

4.3-House Subcom for Fisheries, Wild-life, Oceans

Frank Pallone, US Congress, Wash, DCwww.naturalresources.house.gov,

5-New Jersey Media

5.1-Asbury Park Press Bill Zapcic, Copy Desk X - 4203 bzapcic@njpressmedia.com, 5.2-Ocean County Observer Weekly News. www.nj.com, 732-349-30005.3-Times Beacon Newspapers NJ Press Association, Toms River www.timesbeacon.com, 5.4-Environmental News Network editor@enn.com, www.enn.com5.5-New Jersey Network News News Desk www.njn.net/news,

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Summary

A preliminary list of potential tidal energy sites is presented that is consistent with the project goal of identify-

ing specific areas for power generation from near shore and estuarine tidal flux. Adjustments of this prelimi-

nary site list will reflect comparisons to findings of CUNY computer modeling developed throughout 2011. A

reasonable list is presented based on information available from tidal tables, ADP field measurements, past

research, geomorphology analysis of coastal structures and expert knowledge of NJ waterways. A cata-

logue5 of New Jersey Tidal Energy Sites is in development to assemble detailed data for each site evaluated.

Special focus on NJDOT-related site locations now identify 10 potential sites owned by the state of New Jer-

sey.

While tidal sites favorable to energy generation are identified, exclusion zones that include pristine areas are

also presented as Eco-Exclusion Zones. These are areas known to have sensitive ecological status or pro-

tected areas and are excluded from site analysis activities at this time. A site specific set of 20 field parame-

ters provides a Baseline Environmental Monitoring protocol that has been approved by the USACE and

NMFS for initial site development pre- and post-installation monitoring.

A future network of tidal energy sites capable of broad generation of base load renewable electric power is

possible on a statewide basis in New Jersey. This development is critically dependent on stakeholder sup-

port and resource agency approval, as well as technical feasibility and effective site selection. State and na-

tional organizations and agencies are therefore identified as avenues for outreach and public information

concerning the project goals, objectives, progress and findings. Critical issues will be identified and opera-

tional impacts of tidal energy systems will be made clear through various media and organizational sources.

The first tidal site installation is undergoing the final stages of permitting required by the USACE and FERC.

Installation is projected for early 2012.

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1 Tang, Hansong, w. Cheng, S. Kraatz. Coarse mesh estimate and fine mesh for high-resolution modeling of

tidal energy along the NJ coastlines. Quarterly Project Summary. January 8, 2011.

2 US Department of Commerce. NOAA. National Ocean Service. Coastal Survey. 1940.

3 White, Robert Eldridge, L.F. White. Tide and Pilot Book – 2010. Medfield, MA. 2009.

4 Bason, Roger. H. Tang. Literature Survey: Tidal Energy Power Generation – History and Current Status.

Quarterly Project Summary. September 27, 2010.

5 Bason, Roger. Natural Currents Catalogue of New Jersey Tidal Energy Sites. Power Point Presentation and

Report. 2011