U.S. backs OSU’s wave-energy efforts with $6 million
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.
