Energy News Roundup: September 4-September 10

This week in regional energy news …

• The Maine Public Utilities Commission has approved a five-year contract for energy supply to Verso Paper in Bucksport.  The mill is converting to a biomass boiler, and the additional capacity will support that switch.
• Ocean Renewable Power Co. continues to make good news on its tidal turbine in Eastport, Maine: the Department of Energy is giving the Portland, Maine, company $10 million to advance its tidal generation technology on a commercial scale.  Earlier this week, ORPC announced that the turbine would be moved this month to benefit local fishermen.
• In Canada, Atlantic Resources Corp. has plans to install the world’s largest tidal turbine off of Nova Scotia, in the Bay of Fundy, sometime in 2011.
• Public hearings on Cape Wind are under way at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.  Regulators must determine whether electricity generated from Cape Wind and sold by National Grid will benefit ratepayers.
• First Wind met with commissioners from Piscataquis County, Maine, regarding a proposed 33- to 35-turbine wind development there.
• The Maine Public Utilities Commission is investigating the need for a smart grid operator.  The MPUC is looking into whether it’s in the public interest to have one or more smart grid coordinators in Maine.
• It’s official: David Littell was sworn in as the newest Maine PUC commissioner on Wednesday.  On the same day, Beth Nagusky was sworn in as acting DEP commissioner to replace Littell.