Since 2006, ORPC has been working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to secure the necessary permits to develop these world-class sites. At the same time, we have continually engaged with the local community of Eastport in a collaborative dialogue about our plans and ideas, and have sought their input and advice at every step of the development process. We have forged strong relationships with City of Eastport officials, the Eastport Port Authority, the Cobscook Bay Resource Center, the Cobscook Bay Fisherman's Association, local harbor pilots, The Boat School of Husson University, Sunrise County Economic Council, the public and other local organizations, who have all expressed enthusiastic support for our efforts. The work involved in building installing, testing, and monitoring our technology has also created local job opportunities.

In 2008, ORPC became the first company to generate tidal electricity in the Bay of Fundy without the use of dams. A year of in-water testing also proved our prototype Turbine Generator Unit a technical success. This year, we will continue to lead the industry, as we install the largest ocean energy device U.S. waters have ever seen. Following FERC approval, ORPC will launch a commercial–scale TidGen™ Power System in Cobscook Bay, just west of Eastport. After running and monitoring this smaller system for a year, we will gradually expand its capacity to 5 MW. This larger project will be connected to the New England power pool through Eastport’s Bangor Hydro substation, and will generate enough electricity to power every home and business in the Eastport area with 100% clean tidal energy. Ultimately, ORPC hopes to expand the project to generate enough electricity to power all of Downeast Maine.