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 facility was developed by Oregon State University and received Department of Energy approval to connect to the grid, though no wave energy devices have yet arrived for testing.
- The Trump administration has generally opposed clean energy projects, particularly offshore wind, but views wave energy technologies favorably, citing national security applications.
- The Department of Energy has invested nearly $150 million since 2016 in the facility's siting and construction costs.
- Wave energy has the potential to power approximately 57% of U.S. electrical needs according to federal estimates, and the technology is carbon-free.
The first large-scale wave energy testing facility in continental United States, PacWave South, has officially opened off the Oregon coast near Newport. The facility received federal approval from the Trump administration's Energy Department and has successfully connected to the local electrical grid. Oregon State University developed and oversees the testing site, which will allow companies to bring wave energy conversion technologies for open-ocean testing and power generation.
Despite the Trump administration's general opposition to clean energy projects—particularly offshore wind, which it has actively worked to halt—federal officials have expressed support for wave energy development. The Energy Department characterizes wave energy technologies as having national security applications, including powering remote sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles, and providing power resilience for military bases in sensitive coastal environments.
The Department of Energy has invested approximately $150 million since 2016 in the facility's construction and development. The site is pre-permitted, allowing developers to test multiple types of wave energy converters without requiring individual permits, thereby streamlining the development process. However, the facility has not yet generated electricity as no wave energy devices have arrived, with developers facing delays in federal funding. According to federal estimates, wave energy has the potential to supply approximately 57% of U.S. electrical needs, offering a carbon-free alternative to fossil fuel-based electricity generation.
波浪能测试基地在俄勒冈州开放，特朗普政府时期的绿色能源里程碑
美国大陆首个大型波浪能测试设施PacWave South已在俄勒冈州纽波特沿海正式开放。该设施获得了特朗普政府能源部的联邦批准，并已成功连接到当地电网。由俄勒冈州立大学开发并运营的测试基地将允许企业进行波浪能转换技术的海洋测试和发电。
尽管特朗普政府总体上反对清洁能源项目——特别是海上风电，政府一直在积极阻止其发展——但联邦官员表示支持波浪能开发。能源部将波浪能技术描述为具有国家安全应用价值，包括为远程传感器、自主水下航行器供电，以及为敏感沿海地区的军事基地提供电力保障。
能源部自2016年以来已投入约1.5亿美元用于该设施的建设和开发。该基地已获得预先许可，允许开发商测试多种类型的波浪能转换器，无需单独申请许可证，从而简化了开发流程。然而，由于尚未有波浪能装置到达，该设施目前还未发电，开发商面临联邦资金延迟的问题。根据联邦估计，波浪能有潜力供应美国约57%的电力需求，为化石燃料发电提供无碳替代方案。