Proposed Coos Bay Wave Energy Project

Agency comments ask for cutbacks in wave energy plan
By Susan Chambers, Staff Writer, The World Newspaper. Monday, January 26, 2009

Ocean Power Technologies is feeling pressure as local groups, the state and even the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission urge the company to shrink its 200-buoy Coos Bay plan.

Oregon Wave Energy Partners I, as Ocean Power Technologies, filed its notice of intent and preliminary application document with FERC in March 2008 for the 200-buoy array off the North Spit.

The Southern Oregon Ocean Resource Coalition, Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, Surfrider Foundation and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife filed comments suggesting OPT slow down. Instead of going for a full build-out, phase it in after more studies are done, they said.

The 200-buoy plan also runs counter to FERC’s own advice.

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Panels on Wave Energy

Surfrider Foundation is participating in several panels on Alternative Ocean Energy in the coming months. These public discussions provide a great forum for dialgoue on how this new technology can move forward in a way that minimizes effects to the nearshore environment, ocean recreation, public safety, fishing and other current uses, and aesthetics

Jan 31: NW Water Law Symposium, Portland, OR

Feb 21: Wave Energy Forum sponsored by Humboldt Chapter of Surfrider

Feb 26/29: Public Interest Environmental Law Eugene, OR

April 23/24: Greening the Grid, Portland, OR

Blue Energy

California Coast & Ocean (Vol. 24, No. 3 2008) recently published a great overview article on wave energy that provides an update on the recent history of wave energy applications in Oregon and California and highlights both the potential for a renewable energy source but also the challenges associated with a blurry regulatory process, technological challenges and possible recreational and environmental impacts.

Read the article here

Grays Harbor Ocean Energy seeks permits seven locations on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts

Company seeks to study ocean waves' potential to produce electricity – By Scott Hadly (Scripps Howard News Service) – (January 6, 2009)

A Washington state company has asked federal regulators for a permit to study the potential of producing electricity from ocean waves off the California, Hawaii and Atlantic coasts.

Grays Harbor Ocean Energy applied for the permit in October from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a first step in what would be a multiyear process.

The company asked for permits in seven locations on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, he said. Those sites include areas off San Francisco and Ventura County in California, as well as sites off Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.

According to company officials, if all seven sites are developed, they could produce up to 7,700 megawatts of power, enough for 2 million homes.

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