# 1970s proposal: Power Generation in the Cape Cod Canal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-proposal-power-generation-in-the-cape-cod-canal/726966>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 4, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-proposal-power-generation-in-the-cape-cod-canal/726966 "2015-08-04T12:52:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-proposal-power-generation-in-the-cape-cod-canal/726966/1 "2015-08-04T12:52:55Z")

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Many years ago, i read of a proposal to place turbines at the bottom of the Cape Cod Canal. this was by a Russian mechanical engineering professor, at Northeastern University. the idea seemed good, as the 1.5 hour time difference (of high tide at each end of the canal) guarantees a water flow at all times. I have been unable to find any reference to this-anybody know what I should be Googling?

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**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-proposal-power-generation-in-the-cape-cod-canal/726966/2 "2015-08-04T18:10:38Z")

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No, but seeing the raw power of tides in narrow places makes me wonder how it could be harnessed efficiently. Maybe it can’t with current technology. Talk about renewable energy.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-proposal-power-generation-in-the-cape-cod-canal/726966/3 "2015-08-04T19:22:46Z")

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Behold the [East River turbines](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/powering-the-future-underwater-turbines-harness-river-power/).

It’s challenging to get it to work right. The mechanical stresses on the turbines are quite severe, and space in fast-flowing rivers or straits is quite limited.

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1970s-proposal-power-generation-in-the-cape-cod-canal/726966/4 "2015-08-04T19:39:26Z")

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The engineer you are thinking of may be Alexander Gorlov

> **[Alexander Gorlov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Gorlov)**
>
> Alexander M. Gorlov (March 23, 1931 – June 10, 2016) was a Russian mechanical engineer who was Professor Emeritus and Director of Hydro-Pneumatic Power Laboratory at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
> Alexander M. Gorlov was born into the family of a prosperous lawyer. His father was arrested and died in prison during Joseph Stalin's purges. His mother also spent a number of years in concentration camps in Russia, which forced young Alexander Gorlov to spend some of his childhood ...

Here is one article:  
[http://www.gcktechnology.com/GCK/articles\_Memo\_To\_Tides.html](http://www.gcktechnology.com/GCK/articles_Memo_To_Tides.html)