Wednesday January 16, 2013, 10:56 am
(Image Credit: Oregon State University)


Rolling ocean waves could soon provide electricity for the local grid in one coastal Oregon town.

Newport, Ore., was chosen to be the host community for the future Pacific Marine Energy Center, officials announced this week. About five miles (8 kilometers) off shore, the center will test out an array of wave energy devices for their generation potential and their environmental impacts, according to a statement from Oregon State University.

The devices will be contained in four "test berths" and will be connected to the community's electrical grid by underwater cables, OSU officials said. The devices also will collect data to be analyzed by scientists and engineers at on-shore facilities.

Wave energy structures convert the mechanical power of waves into electricity — at on shore facilities.

Wave energy structures convert the mechanical power of waves into electricity — all without burning fossil fuels. Advocates emphasize that waves, which are constantly in motion, can generate power 24 hours a day, unlike other renewable energy sources such as the sun and wind. But the technology to harness wave energy is still in its earliest stages and thus, expensive.

The Pacific Marine Energy Center, which will take years to complete, got its first installment of funding a few months ago — $4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, plus a non-federal match, according to OSU.
***Check links within article at VISIT SITE****

By: Megan Gannon, News Editor | Live Science |

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 10:58 am
Good job Oregon!!

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 1:37 pm
Glad you bought this up Kit, there is always talk about solar and wind power but very little is mentioned about wave power. We have a prototype off the South Australian coast at the moment - comes on line sometime this year - solves a lot of problems worldwide.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 4:03 pm
Thank you.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 4:22 pm
Thanks Kit. Good to have people who have brought alternate (vs. coal, oils, nuclear) forms of energy to the human world consumption tables. They are not without costs though, and those costs need to be looked at closely for long term affects and on other life forms. We humans demand too much, for too many humans. Among we humans are those who care for the over all planet, not just the few humans who care only for themselves. That is my hope anyway.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 4:24 pm
This is great news and it couldn't come to a nicer place. I have fond memories of Newport and that stretch of the Oregon coast.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 5:36 pm
Noted thanks

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7:04 pm
Very cool!

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7:15 pm
Wave energy is very awesome! I hope that it works. I hope that other wave energy projects work on a smaller scale -- on people's boats, in bays, and along the sides of rivers without harming the river flow. Thank You Kit!

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7:59 pm
Now 'that's the ticket ' !!!!

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 8:00 pm
Ooops...forgot to add...great read and thanks for sharing the info Kit !

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 8:50 pm

I have read a lot about this method of extracting energy from the ocean, and maybe from rivers. The new technology does not harm fish, and moves by the tides and ocean currents - sounds good to me.

One of the early experiments was in NYC they were hoping to supply one block of energy and found it supplied 10 blocks. Stop and think about the many parts of this country that use this energy supply.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 9:40 pm
Noted

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 10:25 pm
Outstanding.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 11:56 pm
thank you

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 11:56 pm
thank you

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 11:57 pm
thank you

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 11:57 pm
thank you

Thursday January 17, 2013, 12:16 am
I had heard about this kind of energy, and it's great news that there is funding and a place to test it. We really are clever animals, and we can save or destroy ourselves. We just need to use our ingenuity, and fund alternative energy. The fossil fuels industry has a death grip on the world right now, but I have hope that (no pun intended) the tide can turn.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 4:57 am
ty

Thursday January 17, 2013, 8:18 am
I've read a number of articles over the years about plants starting up but there all one shot, never hear about them again. We're sadly behind on this energy front.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 9:56 am
thanks

Thursday January 17, 2013, 2:40 pm
noted, sounds promising

Thursday January 17, 2013, 3:10 pm
How interesting.

Friday January 18, 2013, 10:02 am
Thanks

Saturday January 19, 2013, 9:47 am
bravo Oregon
I wish you success :)
thanks for sharing Kit ;)