Cutler power project application submitted

Tamara Allen-Young, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's spokeswoman for liquefied natural gas projects, indicated in a recent e- mail that the agency was notified of the possible project. Normand Laberge, a civilian employee at the Navy's communications facility, has asked FERC for a permit to conduct a study of the suitability of Little Machias Bay and the eastern side of Machias Bay for the power-generation proposal. FERC is the federal government's primary agency for reviewing and granting permits for energy related projects.

The project, if eventually approved, likely would include a tidal power facility in Little Machias Bay and an LNG terminal on the eastern shore of Machias Bay, according to Laberge. Because tidal- power generation levels can be inconsistent, natural gas imported at the LNG terminal would be used to supplement power generation at the site, he has said.

FERC staffers have yet to assign a docket number to Laberge's proposal, Young-Allen said. FERC assigns a docket number to each proposal it accepts and reviews so the agency and the public can keep track of filings and formal comments associated with each project.