Offshore winds has always been known to cause showers and thunderstorms. These winds are now being utilized to generate renewable electricity which is safer for the environment. Principle Power, a new company that was started in January this year has planned its first project on the offshore of Tillamook County coast of Oregon. The firm has raised an amount of $20 million to provide a power of 150-megawatt power to Oregon.

Principle Power has already secured license from Marine Innovation and Technology for WindFloat, an establishment that supports offshore windmills and also signed an agreement with the Tillamook Intergovernmental Development Agency for the project. As said by the co-founder and President Jon Bonanno, of the $20 million the company has raised, a loan of $2.3 million is convertible which gives the lenders shares in the company. This money will be used to fund the project. The company uses renewable technology devised by others in the building of these offshore wind power plants.

Bonanno said that the company is not choosing to take permission for the project till it finds a buyer for the power that is to be produced. The project is going to be built in parts using 30 wind turbines with a capacity of 5-megawatt for each. The company has previously planned projects of hydroelectric power plants on the McKenzie River which failed due to denial of permission by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The building of this project would be a challenge for Principle Power because similar projects in the past have been thwarted due to opposition from the local residents. However, similar projects are to be built in Delaware and New Jersey.  Principle Power is to use a three-legged structure for each floating foundation which will support the turbines. The turbines will be set up at a depth of more than 50meters and would be closer to the shore. These wind power plants have an advantage over the similar ones on land. The winds will be continuous, gustier and more powerful compared to those on land. The turbines of these plants also have a long life.

It is an encouraging fact that this project is being supported by the state of Oregon through People of Oregon for Wave Energy Resources, which runs under partnership of public and private firms. These kinds of projects which are beneficial to the environment should be supported throughout the world and should be started in other countries. The beautiful coastlines will now be able to utilize stores of electric energy hidden in their offshore winds.

Via GreenTechMedia