YAKUTAT, Alaska Resolute Marine Energy has selected Ocean Renewable Power Company's subsidiary, ORPC Solutions, to provide project management and regulatory affairs services for RME's Yakutat Wave Energy Project in Alaska.

Located on the Gulf of Alaska, Yakutat is a remote community of 650 inhabitants that currently relies entirely on diesel fuel transported by barge from Washington. The1,000-mile trek has driven fuel prices as high as US$8 per gallon, ORPC said, threatening the area's economic and social viability.

A preliminary permit granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) earlier this year shows plans for a 750 kW installation that would use ORPC's SurgeWEC devices. The developers are now working with a number of regulatory agencies to obtain the date necessary for a formal license.

"I'm very pleased to see the progress that's being made on the Yakutat Wave Energy Project, and we're very excited that ORPC is now a part of the team," said Scott Newlun, General Manager of the City and Borough of Yakutat Power Company.

ORPC has previously developed a 300 kW tidal energy in Maine's Cobscook Bay, which became North America's first commercial marine tidal project to go on line in September 2012.

"ORPC's demonstrated success in permitting marine hydrokinetic projects and the company's strong relationships with regulatory agencies will be of great benefit as we move from preliminary to final permit status and start deploying our wave energy converters in 2015," RME co-founder and CEO Bill Staby said.

RME is a Boston-based marine and hydrokinetic developer.

"We share RME's commitment to help remote communities address their challenging energy needs," ORPC President and CEO Chris Sauer said. "And we're pleased to help RME make its Yakutat Wave Energy Project a reality."

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