HOUSTON, TX, June 11, 2007 -- Four preliminary permits for the first-ever water energy projects in the State of Mississippi were issued today by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The four projects, which will be owned and operated by Hydro Green Energy LLC, will combine traditional water energy technology with new hydrokinetic energy technologies at existing United States Army Corps of Engineers' dams to generate approximately 100 megawatts of power.
"Today's issuance of our preliminary permits is a significant first step in the process to bring new renewable energy projects to the state of Mississippi," said Wayne F. Krouse, Mississippi native and Chairman, CEO and Founder of Hydro Green Energy. "Although Mississippi might be playing catch up with its neighbors that have long relied on water energy, Mississippi is now in the position to take the early lead in the U.S. in the development of cutting-edge hydrokinetic energy technologies. I'm proud to bring these exciting projects to my home state."
Hydro Green Energy LLC is a Houston, TX based renewable energy project developer and equipment manufacturer that designs, builds and operates hydrokinetic energy systems that generate electricity exclusively from moving water without having to first construct dams, impoundments or conduits. Hydro Green Energy's systems are deployable in rivers, tidal areas and oceans.
Hydro Green Energy's technology is also deployable at existing water energy projects, which bolsters the output of the existing project in an environmentally sound manner. The company received its first technology patent in 2005. Additional patents are pending. Hydro Green Energy is actively pursuing eleven river and ocean-based projects in the U.S. and abroad.
The permits issued today provide Hydro Green Energy the exclusive right for three years to develop the projects at the Corps' dams. "I look forward to working with all stakeholders in Mississippi and at the federal level to develop our proposed projects as quickly as possible," said Krouse. "By doing so, we will bring new sources of pollution-free energy to Mississippi."
Once the permitting and licensing process is complete, the Army Corps of Engineers' Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada and Sardis dams will be outfitted with energy generating equipment that has long been used in Canada at dams that were first built for water supply, flood control or other purposes. In addition, hydrokinetic energy equipment will be installed in the streams below the dams to capture energy from the moving water that has exited the dam. The Mississippi projects will sit at forefront of commercial hydrokinetic energy development in the U.S.
Water energy is the United States' largest renewable resource, accounting for approximately eight percent of the nation's electricity. It is not well known that much potential for new water energy development exists. As much as 21,000 megawatts of potential development can occur without the construction of new dams, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
A study conducted earlier this year by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) found that the U.S. could develop at a minimum 13,000 megawatts of river and ocean-based hydrokinetic energy by 2025. Earlier estimates by DOE showed even greater potential and suggested that the U.S. might be able to double its existing water energy output with the continued development of hydrokinetic technologies.
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