Two years ago, there was a “gold rush” on the ocean to stake claims for wave energy. Now the spray is settling. As it clears, fewer heads remain above water. Energy developers have given up on about a quarter of the wave projects they proposed along the West Coast. Some tidal power proposals are ebbing away as well. The slow arrival of this new source of renewable energy is just fine with some coastal residents who still harbor doubts about the technology. We get more on the story from KPLU’s Tom Banse.
For more information:
Congressional letter – March 2009 Congressional letter requesting $250 million of DOE stimulus funds be set aside for marine renewable power technology R&D. Signers include Jay Inslee (D-WA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and David Wu (D-OR)
West Coast wave energy projects proposed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (www.ferc.gov) listed from north to south (filing date):
P-12751 Makah Bay (Finavera) application to surrender license filed 2/09
P-13058 Grays Harbor Ocean Energy (Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Company, LLC) 11/2007
P-13047 Oregon Coastal Wave Energy (Tillamook Intergovernmental Dev. Entity) 10/2007
P-12750 Newport OPT Wave Park (Ocean Power Technologies) permit surrendered 3/09
P-12793 Florence Oregon Ocean Wave Project (Oceanlinx) 4/2007, withdrawn 4/08
P-12713 Reedsport OPT Wave Park (Ocean Power Technologies) 3/2006
P-12743 Douglas County Wave Energy (Douglas County, OR) 9/2006 (oscillating column device on Umpqua River jetty)
P-12749 Coos Bay OPT Wave Park (Ocean Power Technologies) 3/2006
P-12752 Coos County Offshore (Bandon, Oregon) (Finavera) permit cancelled w/o objection 6/08
P-12779 Humboldt County WaveConnect (PG&E) 2/07
P-12753 Humboldt County Wave Energy (Finavera) permit surrendered 2/09
P-13075 Centerville OPT Wave Park (Ocean Power Technologies) 11/2007
P-12781 Mendocino County WaveConnect (PG&E) 2/07
P-13053 Green Wave Mendocino Wave Park (Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC) filed 10/07 pending
P-13377 and P-13378 Fort Ross Project- N & S (Sonoma County Water Agency) 2/09 pending
P-13376 Del Mar Landing Project (Sonoma County Water Agency) 2/09 pending
P-13308 San Francisco Ocean Energy Project (Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Company, LLC) 10/08 pending
P-13379 San Francisco Ocean Energy Project (City and County of SF) 2/09 pending
P-13052 Green Wave San Luis Obispo Wave Park (Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC) filed 10/07 pending
P-13309 Ventura Ocean Energy Project (Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Company, LLC) filed 10/08 pending
Total proposed wave energy projects since 2006: 21
Total projects scrubbed for any reason: 5
KPLU, http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1496258§ionID=1
Northwest Renewable News 