Wave energy testing site opens off Oregon, a green energy milestone in the Trump administration
- The first large wave energy testing site in continental U.S., called PacWave South off Oregon's coast, has opened after receiving federal approval from the Trump administration.
- The Trump administration has generally opposed clean energy development, particularly offshore wind, but sees potential in wave energy technology.
- The Department of Energy has invested nearly $150 million since 2016 in the facility's siting and construction, and the site is now grid-connected but has not yet generated electricity as no wave energy devices have arrived.
- Wave energy has the potential to power about 57% of U.S. electrical needs according to federal estimates, and the technology is carbon-free.
- The Energy Department characterizes wave energy devices as beneficial for national security applications, contrasting with its opposition to offshore wind on security grounds.
The first large wave energy testing facility in continental U.S., PacWave South, has begun operations off the Oregon coast near Newport after receiving approval from the Trump administration's Energy Department. The facility, developed by Oregon State University, allows companies to test wave energy conversion technologies and deliver generated power to the local grid. This represents a notable development given the Trump administration's general opposition to clean energy projects, particularly offshore wind, which it has actively hindered through policy changes and lease buybacks.
The Energy Department has invested approximately $150 million since 2016 in the facility's development and construction. While the site is now grid-connected, it has not yet generated electricity because wave energy devices have not yet arrived, with developers facing delays in federal funding. The facility is pre-permitted, allowing multiple types of wave energy converters to be tested without requiring individual permits, which is intended to streamline the historically lengthy permitting process for marine energy.
Wave energy technology offers significant potential for the U.S. energy system. Federal estimates indicate it could power approximately 57% of U.S. electrical needs, and unlike fossil fuels, it produces no carbon emissions. The Energy Department also characterizes wave energy devices as having national security applications, citing their potential use in remote sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles, and military base power resilience—a rationale that contrasts sharply with the administration's characterization of offshore wind as a security risk.
波浪能测试基地在俄勒冈州开放，特朗普政府的绿色能源里程碑
美国大陆首个大型波浪能测试基地PacWave South已在俄勒冈州纽波特沿海开始运营，获得了特朗普政府能源部的批准。该设施由俄勒冈州立大学开发，允许公司测试波浪能转换技术并将发电输送到当地电网。鉴于特朗普政府总体反对清洁能源项目，尤其是海上风电（该政府已通过政策改变和租赁回购积极阻止），这一发展值得注意。
美国能源部自2016年以来已投入约1.5亿美元用于该设施的开发和建设。虽然该基地现已并网，但尚未发电，因为波浪能装置尚未到达，开发商面临联邦资金延迟的问题。该设施已获得预许可，允许多种类型的波浪能转换器进行测试而无需获得单独许可证，这旨在简化海洋能源历来冗长的许可程序。
波浪能技术为美国能源系统提供了巨大潜力。联邦估计表明它可以满足美国约57%的电力需求，与化石燃料不同，它不产生碳排放。能源部还将波浪能装置描述为具有国家安全应用价值，引用其在远程传感器、自主水下航行器和军事基地电力弹性中的潜在用途——这一理由与政府将海上风电描述为安全风险形成鲜明对比。