Have you ever sat by the ocean and wondered at the power of waves? They continually come—one after another—never stopping their onslaught. The energy it takes to propel these waves is to put it simply, incredible. Now, consider what this means for energy production. The World Energy Council has estimated that

approximately 2 terawatts (2 million megawatts), about double current world electricity production, could be produced from the oceans via wave power.

The navy has picked up on this and they are currently funding a wave farm in Hawaii. Dr. George W. Taylor, CEO of OPT (the company in charge of the project) stated,

Our engineering group has done a superb job of executing the design, build, test and deployment of this PowerBuoy system in Hawaii. We are pleased to be a part of the Navy’s effort to develop and commercialize new technologies to reduce the Navy’s dependence on fuel shipments for power generation facilities, and to meet its strategic goals and other sustainability initiatives.

How exactly does this technology work? According to CETO, the company in charge of the product,

Unlike other wave energy systems currently under development around the world, the CETO wave power converter is the first unit to be fully-submerged and to produce high pressure seawater from the power of waves.

By delivering high pressure seawater ashore, the technology allows either zero-emission electricity to be produced (similar to hydroelectricity) or zero-emission freshwater. It also means that there is no need for undersea grids or high voltage transmission nor costly marine qualified plants.

This is a prime example of what we at Lights On Oregon support. Because of the innovation in the area of wave-to-energy technology, the United States Navy is increasing its independence. Renewable and affordable energy is important for everyone. If we, as Oregonian’s can decrease our dependence on fossil fuels (and thus increase our energy independence), shouldn’t we do it?

According to KGW:

Inside an engineering lab at Oregon State University, researchers are testing what could be a revolution in renewable energy in Oregon.

It’s a buoy that can generate electricity from the oceans waves.

“What we’re seeing is that it’s a very promising untapped technology,” explained Annette VonJouanne, an Electrical Engineering Professor at OSU. “There’s a tremendous amount of energy available in the world’s oceans.

Researchers say so-called “wave energy parks” could some day power up to 35,000 homes and supply ten percent of Oregon’s energy needs.

And because of the buoys relatively small size, the parks would take up only about one-third of one percent of the state’s 600 square mile coast line leaving room for other ocean industries.

“We certainly are very aware the fishing and crabbing community is very strong off the Oregon coast so we want to insure we have minimal impact on that very successful industry,” explain VonJouanne.

The researchers are even working with fisherman to determine which areas would least impact them. And they say they will l continue to work with fisherman as the technology is fine-tuned.

We’ve already seen the radical environmental opposition to wave energy. We’ll be monitoring the development of OSU’s ocean buoys. Don’t be surprised if this new project is challenged by environmental groups. They’ve shown how far they are willing to go in the past. It would only be consistent for them to challenge this project.

Some good news, for a change. According to the latest “Monthly Electricity Review” issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

Renewable energies, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind accounted for 11.0% of net U.S. electricity generation in June 2008 compared to 8.6% in June 2007.

Compared to June 2007, wind power grew by 81.6%, solar by and hydropower by 34.7%.

Renewable energy sources now account for 37% of the non-fossil net electricity generation in the United States.

We’re making progress. It takes some time, and it takes some work, but we’re making progress.

Renewable energy has its costs—much like fossil fuels have theirs. However, the environmental impact of renewable energy is no where close to that of fossil fuels. If America is to become energy independent, if America is going to exploit available renewable energy sources, if we, as Americans are going to conserve our environment, we must as a whole unite in support of renewable, reliable, and clean energy.  We’re not asking for government subsidies. Quite the opposite. We are asking for an “all of the above energy policy.” That is, we’re asking the government “not to limit our options.” Our request to the government is simple:

Please support the development of all clean and affordable sources of energy, allowing markets and consumers to pick the best options.

Really, that’s not complicated at all. If you have not yet signed our petition, make sure to do so.

Okay, to the New York Times article:

For years, technological visionaries have painted a seductive vision of using ocean tides and waves to produce power. They foresee large installations off the coast and in tidal estuaries that could provide as much as 10 percent of the nation’s electricity.

Other hurdles abound, including sticky environmental and aesthetic questions. In Oregon, crabbers worry that [wave farms] would interfere with their prime crabbing grounds.

“It’s right where every year we deploy 115,000 to 120,000 crab pots off the coast for an eight-month period to harvest crab,” said Nick Furman, executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission. The commission wants to support renewable energy, but “we’re kind of struggling with that,” Mr. Furman said

In Washington State, where a utility is studying the possibility of installing tidal power at the Admiralty Inlet entrance to Puget Sound, scuba divers are worried, even as they recognize the need for clean power.

Said Mike Racine, president of the Washington Scuba Alliance: “We don’t want to be dodging turbine blades, right?”

Americans, energy independence is not free. Some must sacrifice a little here and a little there. Perhaps crabbers will have to harvest crabs elsewhere. Perhaps scuba divers must dive elsewhere. The fact of the matter is that the benefit out ways the cost.

Let your voice be heard: sign our petition or tell your friends.

According to the Oregonian:

Oregon’s effort to become a leader in wave energy development got a boost from the U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday with the announcement of a five-year, $6.25-million grant to establish an ocean energy research center in Newport.

“Oregon is now the unquestioned national leader in marine renewable energy,” said Robert Paasch, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at OSU and interim program director of the new center.

The center will use some of the money to build a floating berth about 1 1/2 miles off the coast at Newport.

Guess what? Radical Environmental groups oppose wave power.

In 2007, the Oregon Surfrider Foundation filed a motion of intervention with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to oppose the Florence Wave Energy facility.  According to their Mission Statement, “SURFRIDER is dedicated to enhancing wave-riding opportunities.”  Affordable clean renewable energy for all Oregonians is not one of their priorities.  Their opposition prevented this clean renewable energy resource from providing electricity for Oregonians, which in turn would have reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emission in Oregon.  The group’s website proclaims, “For those who love surfing the south jetty…this news was a major victory!”

Some things just don’t make sense.