Renewable Energy Jobs - Wave Energy to Bring Power and Jobs to San Francisco

WAVE ENERGY TO BRING ENERGY TO BRING POWER AND JOBS TO SAN FRANCISCOSan Francisco took a meaningful step toward turning the promise of

renewable ocean energy into reality. We submitted a preliminary permit

application to the federal government to develop a wave power project off

our coast that we believe can generate between 10 to 30 megawatts of

energy, with potential of up to 100 megawatts. When this project is fully

operational, upwards of 100 jobs could be created in San Francisco.Ocean power is a true “game changer” in the area of renewable energy. When

wave and tidal power technologies reach commercial scale, they are expected

to be able to provide thousands of megawatts of power to our coastal

communities, dramatically green our energy portfolios and create thousands

of new American jobs. In San Francisco, we’ve been doing our part to spur

these technologies by aggressively advancing tidal and wave power pilot

projects. We are 100% committed to this challenge.Wave power is not a new concept. In 1887, San Francisco Mayor Adolph Sutro

recognized the power of San Francisco’s waves and built a wave catch-basin

to harness the ocean’s power. Over the next century wave power development

took a backseat to our dependence on oil, with oil platforms built along

our coasts to feed our oil addiction.However more recently, an explosion of research and development of wave

power technologies has occurred. The first commercial units are scheduled

to go online in Portugal this year (2 MW from three 750 KW Pelamis units).

In the U.S. there are a number of studies, but no commercial operations;

San Francisco is hoping to change that.The proposal submitted by the City to the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission (FERC), grows out of a recent wave power study the City

completed, with generous support from the Sidney Frank Foundation and

others.The study confirms that wave power is a promising resource off Ocean Beach

in San Francisco. Our project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of

generating electric power from waves about eight miles off the west coast

of San Francisco. The next step in our project will be to select

technologies and undertake environmental studies to ensure minimal impact

on marine animals, fishing, shipping and recreational uses.There are over 50 different types of wave devices currently under

development, ranging from “pitching” devices (Pelamis), “overtopping”

devices (Wave Dragon), oscillating water columns (OceanLinx) and “heaving”

devices (Aquabuoy). Some of these devices are based on “biomimicry”

principles, which imitate natural designs and processes (bioWave,

WaveRoller). Others can even provide both wave power and desalination

(CETO). Wave technology is still new, but the possibilities of clean, green

energy produced by the ocean is very real, if we invest in the technology.

We will look at all of these and others technologies to find what will work

best for us in San Francisco’s waters.As our leaders in Washington examine ways to ramp up the amount of

renewable energy produced in the US over the next three years, in San

Francisco we hope to demonstrate that the ocean has the potential to

provide power for millions of Americans.To view the original article please click hereFor the very latest marine energy jobs, wave energy jobs and tidal energy

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