nexium - Tidal power has been tried. Here are a few excerpts from Awake, 10/8/91 concerning a pilot plant in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada, that began operating in 1984:<br /><br />A full-fledged project was thus proposed that would generate 4,800 megawatts-6.5 million horsepower-of electrical energy. (By comparison, an entire nuclear plant in neighboring New Brunswick generated only 600 megawatts.) The cost of such a tidal power project, though, would be astronomical-estimated in 1981 at about $5,000,000,000 (Canadian)!....<br /><br />[concerning the operating pilot project]<br /><br />Called the Annapolis Tidal Power Project, it is located in a dam across the Annapolis River, which flows into Annapolis Basin, a tidal river basin that flows into the Bay of Fundy, near the town of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Completed at a cost of $55 million, the plant began generating electricity in 1984....<br /><br />the station generates some 30 million kilowatt-hours of power a year-enough to supply 8,000 homes. ...<br /><br />To meet these conditions, an experimental turbine was developed, 25 feet [7.6 m] in diameter. The magnetic poles of the generator, which produces electricity as the turbine revolves, are fixed to the rim of the turbine and turn with it. (Conventional turbines usually turn a shaft that drives the generator.) The result is a more compact turbine that operates efficiently when water velocity is relatively low.<br /><br />Would not the salt content of the water pose problems for this equipment? The corrosive effect of salt water has been a major problem, but engineers have dealt with it by putting a very small electric current in the water passage to offset corrosion....<br /><br />However, partially damming the Bay of Fundy for electrical power could cause serious problems. For one thing, the huge cost of construction is a worry. In addition, there is concern about environmental damage. The possible alteration of the tides of Fundy by several inches could resu