Energy News Roundup: June 19-June 25

This week in the regional news roundup …

• FERC has approved the Penobscot River Restoration Trust’s plans (click to download a PDF image of the project) to remove the Veazie and Great Works dams and bypass the Howland dam, reopening hundreds of miles of waterways for migratory fish.  Verrill Dana’s Scott Anderson represents the Trust on this project.
• The city of Boston has plans to create an “Innovation District,” which would be home to clean-tech and green energy businesses along the South Boston Waterfront.
• E2Tech hosted a well-attended and educational ocean energy forum at the Portland Country Club, with presentations by Beth Nagusky (click to download Beth’s PowerPoint presentation) of the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force, John Ferland of Ocean Renewable Power Co., Bill Staby of Resolute Marine Energy, and Des Fitzgerald of Principle Power.  Verrill Dana’s Nora Healy and Katie Gray attended the forum. 
• Meanwhile, Irving Oil has discarded its exclusive right to conduct tidal power research in the Bay of Fundy, off of New Brunswick, but NB says there’s still a future for tidal power there.
• FERC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would address regional transmission planning and cost allocation in light of FERC’s Order 890 open access reforms.  The public may submit comments to FERC over the next two months.