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LePage Administration Seeks Hydropower Inventory

AUGUSTA, Maine - As part of a new state energy plan to be delivered to the Legislature in January, the Governor's Energy Office is undertaking a study to update the state's inventory of existing and potential hydropower resources.

Maine energy officials say the state has not assessed its hydropower resources since the early 1990's, back when policies were aimed at constructing significant new hydro dams.  State Energy Director Patrick Woodcock says officials want to see if it's possible to get more clean energy from existing hydropower.

Woodcock says the inventory will identify potential sites for small and micro facilities, untapped potential at existing hydropower sites and resources available from river flows, waves, tides and currents, "using new technology, investing in old facilities and managing our system flows in a more efficient manner."

Woodcock says the use of additional hydropower production could help the state comply with pending federal clean power rules.
 

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.