Surf’s up for electric generation

Plans to harness the spectacular power of the Sonoma Coast’s
ocean waves to generate electricity got a go-ahead this week from
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
FERC announced it has given three preliminary permits to the
Sonoma County Water Agency for a feasibility study of a
“hydrokinetic energy project” utilizing wave energy at three places
off the Sonoma Coast.
The locations include three 10- to 15-square mile areas along
the coast north of the Russian River estuary at Jenner.
Each site extends from a half-mile to about three miles
offshore.
In April FERC accepted three project applications submitted by
the SCWA that cover offshore areas “deemed to have significant
potential for wave energy production,” said Water Agency spokesman
Brad Sherwood.
The permits allow the Water Agency to study the feasibility of
developing two to five megawatts (MW) of wave power at each
location and to assess “the potential for expansion to over 40 MW
at each of the three sites,” said Sherwood.
A megawatt is one million watts. The Water Agency uses about 60
million kilowatts of power annually to pump water to its 600,000
contracted customers in Marin and Sonoma counties, according to
Water Agency estimates.
The preliminary permits only allow a SWAC investigations to
secure “the necessary data to determine the feasibility of the
proposed project and to prepare a license application,” said 
Sherwood. “It grants no land-disturbing or other property
rights.”
SCWA estimates that about $1.75 million in grant funding and
SCWA funds will be required to complete the feasibility
studies.
“We will continue to work with the many community organizations
and the public on the next steps of this important project,” said
5th District Supervisor and SCWA Director Efren Carrillo. “The
feasibility studies will identify the opportunities for furthering
our goal of providing carbon free water by 2015.”
SCWA initiated wave energy studies in 2007 as a part of its
program to procure all of its electric power from renewable
sources. SCWA has a plan to produce “Carbon Free Water,” produced
and delivered to customers with no greenhouse gas emissions.
The Water Agency said it has worked with a coalition of interest
groups to select potential wave power locations based on their
avoidance of marine life protection areas, known fishing and
crabbing areas, and other sensitive locations.
Approval of the permit application would give SCWA the priority
to file a license application for development of the wave energy
resources in these areas during the permit term.
“Fishermen have a significant interest in the development of
renewable energy as a source of replacement power allowing removal
of antiquated hydroelectric dams and, more importantly, to reduce
carbon emissions to the atmosphere that ultimately result in ocean
acidification,” said Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific
Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations. “The studies that
will be conducted under this permit should help determine if there
are any sites offshore suitable for wave energy projects that will
not interfere with fishing, create navigation hazards, or cause
environmental harm.”
Wave energy technology utilizes floating devices that use ocean
surface wave energy to drive electric generators.
PG&E two years ago announced it was looking at Pacific Ocean
wave energy as an electric power source since state renewable
energy goals mandate greater use of renewable resources in energy
production.
For online information, visit www.sonomacountywater.org.