Tidal Power for New York

tidal turbines in New York City’s East River will begin cranking out about 150 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. If all goes as planned, a tidal power farm of 200 to 300 of the 15-foot-tall (4.5 m) turbines will be installed, beginning in the fall of 2005. These will produce about 10 megawatts (MW) of power by 2006, enough electricity for approximately 8,000 homes.

The turbines will rotate slowly, at about 30 rotations per minute, in the tidal current. When the tide turns, the turbines will pivot to capture the reverse flow. Testing done in December 2002 showed that the slow rotations of the 8-foot-diameter (2.4 m), three-blade propellers will not injure aquatic life. When completed, according to a July 10, 2004 article in the