Sep. 17--Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist who specializes in foreign affairs, has often urged business and government leaders to quickly embrace and dominate the next great global industry: energy technology.

If the U.S. fails to do so, China and the European Union will win the ET race.

The Marine Renewable Energy Center of UMass-Dartmouth is working to make sure that New England captures a share of that emerging market. Within the next 10 years, center officials hope New England will be the nation's leader in testing, developing and deploying tidal, wave and offshore wind projects.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and UMass, the center and its university and industry partners are engaged in a wide range of research and technology development projects.

Located at UMass-Dartmouth's Advanced Technology & Manufacturing Center in Fall River, the center is also developing a 10-mile by 30-mile test site for renewable energy projects off the eastern coasts of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. When operational, the first-in-the-nation National Offshore Renewable Energy Innovation Zone will be wired and permitted to allow energy companies to conduct trials of their systems in the harsh marine environment for a fraction of what it would cost to establish a similar capability by themselves.

"While New England suffers from energy shortages and high prices, there is tremendous energy available in the ocean at our doorstep," said John Miller, director of the center. "MREC is here to open that door, bringing electricity and jobs to our region."

The Electric Power Research Institute, an industry research center, estimates that while the peak energy usage in New England is about 28 gigawatts, New England's adjacent waters could yield more than 200 gigawatts from wave, tidal and offshore wind projects.

Currently, the center is working with the towns of Edgartown and Nantucket to test and develop a tidal energy project in Muskeget Channel, a spot with a furious confluence of currents between the islands of Muskeget and Martha's Vineyard. The project has the potential to provide power to the entire town of Edgartown.

The center is also working with a regional consortium of universities, including UMass, MIT, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, UNH, URI and others, to advance research in marine renewables.

Today, the center is hosting its second annual Ocean Energy for New England Conference at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis. The conference is designed to bring together policy, planning and public interest stakeholders to address issues about ocean energy prospects in New England waters.

For more information about the center or the conference, go to www.mrec.umassd.edu.

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