PORT TOWNSEND – A quiet competition is under way between the city of Port Townsend and the Snohomish County Public Utility District, both of which want a piece of an energy source that turns with the tides.

The common waterway that the two government agencies seek for developing such an electrical power source is Admiralty Inlet, which connects the Strait of Juan De Fuca with Puget Sound.

In June, Snohomish PUD filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking for rights to develop tidal energy.

In addition to Admiralty Inlet, the PUD’s application targets development of tidal turbine fields at Deception Pass, San Juan Channel, Spieden Channel, Agate Passage, Rich Passage and Guemes Channel.

“Admiralty Inlet is one of the larger areas, so it has the most potential,” said Craig Collar, Snohomish PUD tidal project manager.