A Maine company is slated to receive more than $3.6 million from the federal government toward the development of a tidal power system.

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine says Ocean Renewable Power Company of Portland is getting the money from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

Pingree says the money is from a new federal program intended to help develop new designs for economically competitive hydrokinetic turbines for tidal and river currents.

The congresswoman says supporting tidal power projects is important for the country to adapt from fossil fuel reliance to a more renewable energy model.