U.S. Dept. of Energy officials say they are preparing to issue loan guarantees for more clean energy projects.

States, utilities, firms and politicians vie for infrastructure law funds to develop networks to produce and use the cleaner gas alternative.

The road to innovation can be a long and winding one, but it might be hard to rival the path followed by the Ocean Renewable Power Co., of Portland, Maine, and its RivGen submersible electric power generating system, which is designed for installation on riverbeds and is based upon the company’s tide-driven units for maritime locations.