Project could be the wave of the future
By Rick Osborn, Staff Writer
As the price of gasoline continues to rise and the United States' dependence on fossil fuels continues to play a role in global affairs, Oregon residents don't need to look far to see what could be energy's wave of the future.
Mariners have known about the ocean's power for hundreds of years. Now, researches are looking to harness the energy of waves.
"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," Central Lincoln People's Utility District Communications Manager Gary Cockrum said.
This project isn't just a hit in the world of electrical engineering. It's a home run for the Reedsport area. The entities planning to begin working with this experimental technology have been eyeing the International Paper mill site in Gardiner as the perfect place for wave energy to come of age.
"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. "(We would) take over the entire site and make that and the ocean off of there a renewable ocean extraction system and demonstration point."
At a meeting, held 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 South Coast residents.
State Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, and Sen. Joanne Verger, D-Coos Bay, both attended along with representatives working for Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.; and Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. Douglas County Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman also attended, along with tribal representatives and a packed room of curious residents.
In all, about 150 community members packed the port's meeting room, leaving standing room only. Most audience members gave positive responses to the project.
Oregon State University Professor of Electrical Engineering Annette von Jouanne explained the project as a colaboration and partnership between various interests.
"There is tremendous potential in the oceans to supply energy for the world," said von Jouanne, "A 10-square-mile wave power plant could supply the entire state of Oregon."
With a PowerPoint presentation, von Jouanne explained to the audience the kinds of equipment used for generating wave power.
"Having strong public support is a key component," von Jouanne said.
EPRI and Bonneville Power Authority identified the Gardiner site as the ideal place for the project in their feasibility study.
Project supporters hope Gardiner someday could become synonymous someday with wave energy. The former mill site meets not only all the existing desired attributes, but it also has an outflow pipe already in place - a structure that could reduce the cost of building a power plant. From the Gardiner Substation, the electricity could be transported to other stations up and down the coast.
"It would call attention to the area, positive attention, and that is always a good thing," Port of Umpqua Board of Commissioners President Keith Tymchuk said. "I also really like the fact that this is a forward-looking project. It is progressive. All communities, and Reedsport is no exception, are well served by a progressive eye to the future."
One logistical problem has to do with money: It will take about $5 million to complete the project's initial phases. But the recently passed federal energy bill could alleviate much of the cost burden.
"We are currently working on a draft work plan that outlines the financing and environmental impact and studies that need to occur (as well as permits)," ODE Senior Policy Analyst Justin Klure said. "The first and most important is going to be the siting and permitting. There's a lot of potential there but at the same time there's quite a bit of work left to be done."
Some of that work, OSU's Wallace said, includes making sure apparatus won't adversely affect the commercial fishing industry.
"We've got to find a location where we don't do any damage to the local industries or fishermen or the crab- catching industries," Wallace said. "... It may be that this site would be good, but we also know that there are good areas where crabs go. We don't want to disturb that at all."
Congressman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who is visiting the South Coast this week, is familiar with the project.
"It's intriguing," he said, adding later, "I would definitely be supportive."
At first, he said, he was skeptical that a system could function along the Pacific Northwest Coast, famous for its rough seas. He said he's seen a similar system operate successfully off the coast of Scotland.
As to the massive federal energy bill, DeFazio said that while most of the money is to benefit traditional industries, such as oil and gas, some money is being allocated for development of new technologies. And while he hasn't talked with researchers, he likely would be open to requesting appropriations for such a project.
If everything comes to fruition, the local economy could see a boost.
"I think there will probably be measurement facilities where we look at what's happening as the power comes back, calibration, maintenance for the devices that go out there," Wallace said.
Machine shops in Reedsport could see added business. Maintenance and repairs likely would be ongoing.
And the equipment must be assembled on site.
"I can see ... an interpretive center with models of devices," Wallace said. "It could become eventually in addition to a serious research and demonstration facility, it could also become a tourist attraction as well."
Central Lincoln PUD officials see an opportunity to jump into the game.
"We would be involved in channeling the energy from there to wherever it is going and hopefully purchasing some of the energy for our own customers," Cockrum said.
How much energy could be generated from moving water - the Oregon coast's most abundant natural resource?
"I don't know that there's really a limit; it just kind of depends on the number of elements that you put out there," Cockrum said. "Each element has a certain capacity ... as the technology changes I'm sure the capacity of each individual element will go up also. 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
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