GARDINER, Ore. - As the price of a barrel of oil continues to surge, scientists are turning to the ocean as a possible source of alternative energy.

The potential for harnessing the power of waves has drawn serious study by Oregon State University, federal and state agencies, and communities along the Oregon Coast.

"There's a real good chance that Oregon could turn into kind of the focal point in the United States for wave energy development and I think that would be a boon to the economy," said Gary Cockrum, spokesman for the Central Lincoln People's Utility District.

Groups hoping to begin work on experimental technology are considering the International Paper mill site in Gardiner.

"We have a lot of momentum going for it, I think, but we still have to work out lot of details," said Alan Wallace, Oregon State University professor of electrical engineering.

The plan is to take over the site to make it a showcase for a "renewable ocean extraction system," he said.

Last Friday at the Port of Umpqua office in Reedsport, officials from Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon State University, Electrical Power Research Institute and other federal and state officials gathered to explain the fledgling project to more than 100 southern Oregon Coast residents.

"There is tremendous potential in the oceans to supply energy for the world," Annette von Jouanne, an Oregon State electrical engineering professor told the crowd. "A 10-square-mile wave power plant could supply the entire state of Oregon."

The electric institute and the Bonneville Power Administration identified the Gardiner site as the ideal place for the project in their feasibility study.

The former mill has an outflow pipe already in place — a structure that could reduce the cost of building a power plant. Electricity from the Gardiner site could be transmitted to other stations up and down the coast.

Money is the biggest obstacle. It will take about $5 million to complete the project's initial phases. But the recently passed federal energy bill could reduce much of that burden.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (news, bio, voting record), D-Ore., who is visiting the southern Coast this week, called the project "intriguing." He added: "I would definitely be supportive."

At first, he was skeptical that a system could function along the Pacific Northwest Coast, famous for its rough seas. But he said he's seen a similar system operate successfully off the coast of Scotland.

How much energy could be generated from the water is still unclear, but those involved with the project say the possibilities could be limitless.

"I read something involved with this that said if 0.2 percent of the ocean's energy were harnessed, it could produce enough energy to power the entire world," added Cockrum, the utility district spokesman.


Wouldn't it be awesome if this country could come up with a renewable energy source and flip the f^*king middle east off. I am not a science kinda person, any of you science nerds out there think this wave action source of energy could be feesable?

and once the plant is built global warming will stop the rotation of the earth and there will no more waves :D

I was thinking that if put all of these wave machines on all of the coasts they'll eventually damp out the currents and there will be no more waves. I'm being silly of course but it strikes me as one of those things you'd find out 100 years in the future.

I bet it could work, the question is where do you put them where they won't ruin anyone's view?

just dont put them in front of barbara streisands estate

In the U.S. most waves are in state owned territory. Probably would take a heck of a lot of paperwork(permits) to install one.
I remember the idea surfacing many years ago. I have never seen one in action.
There is a lot of energy there to be used.

I doubt that.. I mean the basic thing is that when waves hit the shore, they lose energy... so since they haven't stopped in the thousands of years that they have been hitting land, i doubt a little dam or a generatoe could stop them... But i doubt with current technlogical limitations, can enough be harnessed to use for the whole world...? Plus here's a silly question... Does anyone know how waves are formed...?

After reading this I sat down and designed 2 models out of curiosity. Using wave action and hydraulics then using channeled wave action and turbines, I see where each floating unit could generate enough power for appx: 1500 homes using the General Electric 1.5 megawatt generator that is already in existance.

I designed my unit to look like floating tropical islands with artificial palm trees and bushes for eye appeal.

Great idea Dan, make them look pleasant and less people will complain about them.

I found this article on Yahoo this morning. This technology is further along than I thought.

Scotland set to harness tidal power

ABERDEEN (Reuters) - Scotland aims to generate 10 percent of its electricity from tidal and wave power which would be equivalent to replacing a huge fossil fueled power station, the Scottish government said this week.

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said he was making changes to renewable energy support regulations to kick start millions of pounds of investment in marine energy.

"Tens of millions of pounds of support will be available -- with the potential for hundreds of millions to be invested in new wave and tidal projects around Scotland's shores," Stephen said in a statement.

Expansion of the marine energy industry in Scotland could create thousands of jobs, he said.

Scotland is looking to become a center for renewable technology to supplement its oil and gas industry which will eventually decline as output drops from the UK's aging North Sea fields.

Tidal and wave power technology is still in its infancy. Utility Scottish Power and engineering company AMEC have a pilot wave power project in Orkney but there have been no large commercial wave or tidal schemes in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive will change the rules of the Renewables Obligation Scotland, government-backed rules to support green energy, to award additional Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) to wave and tidal output.

Wave and tidal power generators can sell these ROCS to electricity suppliers who buy them to meet their obligation to supply a certain amount of their power from green sources.

The Executive has a target of generating 18 percent of Scotland's power from green sources by 2010, higher than the UK national goal of 10 percent.

NERDS!

I bet it could work, the question is where do you put them where they won't ruin anyone's view? Yeah we wouldn't want it to block the view of those beautiful oil rigs.
:D