This seaside town will power thousands of homes with waves

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Newport, Oregon, will host the U.S.’s first large-scale wave energy project, PacWave, with the potential to generate 20 megawatts of energy, powering thousands of homes
• Backed by $100 million, including Energy Department funding, the project aims to advance marine energy technology and close the gap with Europe
• The project has secured support from the fishing community, despite some economic trade-offs

🔭 The context: Wave energy offers a constant renewable power source, unlike solar and wind, and has minimal visibility or environmental disruption compared to offshore wind
• The PacWave site will serve as a testing ground for various wave energy converter designs to assess their efficiency, durability, and environmental impacts
• This innovation could help the U.S. transition from fossil fuels while preserving marine ecosystems and fishing livelihoods

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Marine energy has the potential to harness a third of the U.S.’s coastal wave power, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels
• By diversifying renewable energy sources, projects like PacWave can support a more resilient and sustainable energy grid

⏭️ What's next: Testing of wave energy converters at PacWave will begin in 2025, with results informing future commercial projects
• Federal support and technological advancements are crucial to overcoming cost and permitting challenges
• Success at PacWave could unlock scalable wave energy solutions, especially for remote communities dependent on diesel fuel

💬 One quote: “We’ve got to start testing some of this stuff out and see what works and what doesn’t,” - Matthew Grosso, Energy Department’s water power technologies director

📈 One stat: The Biden administration has committed $112.5 million to wave energy development, marking the largest federal investment in marine energy

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