Comments Sought for Wave Energy Project in Oregon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on a request for a permit that would allow Ocean Power Technologies to install 10 buoys that would use wave action to produce electricity in the Pacific Ocean off Gardiner, Oregon . The company is looking to place the buoys in a 1,300-by-1,000-foot zone 2.5 miles west of the shore. The buoys, with a float ring diameter of 36, would be spaced 330 feet apart. A sub-sea transmission cable would transmit the electricity produced by the buoys to a Douglas Electric Cooperative transmission line on land. It would utilize an existing conduit, located about one-half mile from shore that formerly served as an effluent discharge pipe from the old International Paper plant at Gardiner.

Written comments should be sent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Merina Christoffersen, 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401-2156. Comments related to water quality issues should be mailed to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 2020 S.W. Fourth Ave., Portland, OR 97201-4953, Attn: 401 Water Quality Certification Coordinator. They can also be sent by e-mail to 401publiccomments@deq.state.or.us.

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Largest Ocean Energy Device in the US coming to Maine

When it is placed in the water next month, Ocean Renewable Power Co.’s underwater Turbine Generator Unit (TGU), designed to harness tidal power in Cobscook Bay near Eastport, Maine, will have a capacity rating of 60 kilowatts, making it the largest ocean energy device deployed in U.S. waters. In less than a month, the TGU should be providing power to the U.S. Coast Guard station in Eastport. "Energy Tide 2" has the capacity to generate enough electricity to power 20 homes.

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Although this is not much power, it is an important first step commercializing tidal power in the U.S. In a year or so from now, Ocean Renewable could have a 1-megawatt, stackable module of turbines off Eastport. Hooked to the Bangor Hydro-Electric grid, it could generate enough clean power at peak tidal flows to light more than 300 homes. That could lead to an expanded project with more modules and more output. If the technology can be refined to extract power from slower currents, and Ocean Renewable can win the needed regulatory permits, there may be enough good underwater sites around Eastport to install units with a total capacity of 100 megawatts.

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Editorial Supports Humboldt Wave Energy Project

On February 4 the Eureka, CA Times-Standard editorialized in favor of PG&E's proposed wave energy project by writing:

"...we encourage Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s efforts to implement a cutting-edge wave energy project off our coast. As long as it remains understood that such efforts need much in the way of development, and that some serious due diligence needs to be undertaken so that such projects don't have traumatic impacts on our coast or our fishing industry, Humboldt County should be jumping up and down to attract such projects. "

PG&E wave project in Humboldt County, CA

EUREKA -- The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is weeks away from submitting an application to the federal government for a first-of-its kind project to test wave energy devices off the Humboldt County coast.
The pilot project could be a proving ground for the large-scale production of energy from waves, but a host of environmental and economic concerns will have to be addressed before that can happen. At a public meeting at the Veteran's Hall Tuesday night, a working group made up of representatives from PG&E, state and federal agencies, commercial and sport fishing interests, and surfing and environmental groups outlined the promise and potential effects of new technologies.

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The Humboldt Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is actively participating in this planning process to ensure that is meets the standards established in our Alternative Ocean Energy policy

What industry are we propping up?

Source: Environmental Law Institute

What energy future are we really supporting? The world's most profitable and polluting companies or a renewable energy future? Read more here and here.