WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded York-based company RTI Wave Power for being selected as one of nine finalists in a national wave energy competition held by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Wave Energy Prize is a 20-month design-build-test competition that aims to double the energy harnessed by ocean waves.

“Tidal energy is an important part of Maine’s energy future, and with innovative efforts like those at RTI Wave Power and the University of Maine, our state is at the forefront of this promising industry.” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “We are proud of the hardworking team at RTI Wave Power and wish them best of luck as they move forward in the Wave Energy Prize competition.”

For the past seven years, RTI Wave Power has been developing and testing wave energy technologies and holds several U.S. wave energy patents. It is a unit of Rohrer Technology, Inc., a Maine Corporation founded by John W. Rohrer.

The RTI Wave Power team completed its testing at the new Harold Alfond Ocean Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories at the University of Maine. Senators Collins and King helped officially unveil the new ocean engineering facility in November of last year.

The Wave Energy Prize is a public prize challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Program. The prize is designed to increase the diversity of organizations involved in Wave Energy Converter (WEC) technology development, while motivating and inspiring existing stakeholders. The winner of the Wave Energy Prize will be awarded $2.25 million.

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