CAPE MAY - Fishermen's Energy of New Jersey, one of three companies looking to create wind farms off of Atlantic City, is beginning to take scientific surveys to determine exactly where the wind farm should be located.

The Cape May-based fishing vessel Capt. Bob has been outfitted with scientific equipment to study a location 12 miles southeast of Atlantic City, according to Paul Gallagher, general counsel of Fishermen's Energy.

To evaluate the site for wind turbine suitability, data is needed on environmental conditions, wind speeds and direction and heights. The process involves erecting an offshore meteorological tower (or met tower) with a wide array of sensors.

The Fishermen's Energy tower will be about 300 feet tall and will serve as a platform for scientific studies of the atmosphere, oceanography and biological conditions not only for wind farm planning, but for university and ocean science programs. Powered by solar panels and small wind turbines, the data collection systems continuously measure and transmit information to shore for analysis. Fishermen's will also make much of the data available to the public through a website

The tower will be built with the assistance of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). On Jan. 9, the NJBPU awarded a $4 million rebate to each of three companies, which will be paid in 2010 after each has built a met tower, estimated to cost about $6 million each.

The towers are just the first step in projects that will each cost more than $1 billion. If all three are built, beginning in about 2013, they will generate approximately 1,000MW of clean energy.

As part of its goal to integrate and retrain crews from the fishing industry, Fishermen's Energy is utilizing the Capt. Bob, a scallop vessel from Cape May as the platform for performing the seismic survey.

The Capt. Bob will work out of docks in Atlantic City for Sea Watch International, the country's largest clam processor. Local principals of Sea Watch International are also fishermen investors in Fishermen's Energy.

The Cape May-based firm was formed by members of the local fishing industry to pursue offshore wind energy as a business opportunity rather than a threat to the fishing industry.

Learn more at www.fishermensenergy.com.