News

Late last month, the wave power industry in the United States took an important step forward with the opening of PacWave South, a pre-permitted, grid-connected wave energy testing facility off the coast of Oregon.  

Oregon State University has been developing PacWave for more than 15 years, with funding from the Department of Energy. The facility is the only grid connected site in the continental US that allows developers to test marine energy systems. Crucially, it is also pre-permitted, which will help speed up the development and commercialization of new wave power technologies.  

PacWave is comprised of the grid-connected PacWave South, as well as a northern site that is not grid-connected. Located 7 miles off the coast, the facility can now host several types of wave energy systems in an open-ocean setting, while transmitting power back to the grid via a power-purchase agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration.  

The facility could test a wide range of novel wave energy converter (WEC) technologies, from buoy-like devices that capture energy from the up-and-down oscillation of waves to linear absorbers that transfer wave energy into power.  

One device that could soon be tested at PacWave South comes from California-based CalWave, which is developing a fully submerged WEC that can withstand storm swells and other extreme conditions.  

According to DOE, the available marine energy resources in the US are equivalent to about 57% of the current electricity generation in the country. Through the Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office, or H2O for short, DOE is actively exploring wave power and other advanced hydropower systems, including its support for the PacWave facility.  

Elsewhere in the West, excitement is building around technology from EcoWave Power, which is working to outfit piers, breakwaters, jetties, and other existing shoreline infrastructure with “floaters” that rise and fall with breaking waves. The company has already deployed a pilot project in the Port of Los Angeles, and it is working to provide renewable wave power to the artificial intelligence industry.  

In Alaska, ongoing work from the University of Alaska Fairbanks is pursuing next-generation marine energy systems, particularly for small, remote communities.  

Wave energy research is also ongoing in Hawaiʻi, where the US Navy runs the Wave Energy Test Site off of Oʻahu. Earlier this week, a collaboration between the National Laboratory of the Rockies and the University of Hawaiʻi deployed a new wave energy device on Oʻahu. The device features a buoyant flap anchored close to shore that oscillates with each incoming wave to generate power.  

For more on building a future of energy abundance in the West, read the full Energy Superabundance initiative report from Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s term as WGA Chair last year.  

Suicide prevention in Wyoming: next week, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will open the Wyoming Suicide Prevention Symposium with a fireside discussion and the signing of a Suicide Prevention Awareness proclamation.  

Titled "Stronger Together: Building Networks of Hope,” the event on September 15 & 16 will bring together professionals, leaders, and community members to explore strategies around suicide prevention and behavioral health. Governor Gordon has made mental health and suicide prevention a priority of his administration through efforts like his WY We Care initiative.  

"Mental health is not a political issue; it is a human issue that touches every family in every  corner of our state," Governor Gordon said. "Through the WY WE CARE initiative many individuals and organizations have come together to create a proactive network of hope. Healing begins when we remove the stigma, have the conversation and equip every citizen with the tools to listen, connect, and save lives." 

Building on his efforts to support improved mental health care in the region, Governor Gordon will host the next workshop for WGA’s Health Beyond Healthcare initiative in Jackson, Wyoming, on October 8 & 9. Get involved with the initiative and learn more here.  

Federal land for housing: in Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo and the City of Las Vegas recently announced a historic federal land sale for housing in northwest Las Vegas. The city recently acquired the land from the Bureau of Land Management, and the site will soon support as many as 6,000 new homes. The project is expected to create up to 1,000 permanent jobs, significant construction employment, and $3-4 billion in total economic value.  

Governor Lombardo played an active role in the sale, including writing directly to Interior Secretary (and former North Dakota Governor) Doug Burgum.  

“This is exactly the kind of bold action Nevada needs to increase our housing supply and make housing more attainable for hardworking Nevada families,” said Governor Lombardo. “This historic conveyance will create thousands of new homes, generate billions of dollars in economic activity, support our military families, and build the infrastructure and communities Southern Nevadans need.” 

Heat Beneath Our Feet: this week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis celebrated the Department of Energy’s designation of the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Colorado as a Center for Excellence for geothermal development, research, and innovation.  

“By harnessing the heat beneath our feet, we’re cutting down on our emissions and using this innovative technology to take advantage of Colorado’s unique natural resources, producing clean, affordable heat for homes, businesses and large institutions in our state,” said Governor Polis. “I congratulate the National Laboratory of the Rockies on this important achievement and our ongoing partnership to boost geothermal energy production in Colorado.” 

Governor Polis has been a leader in geothermal energy development, from the state’s Geothermal Energy Grants to legislation promoting geothermal development and, of course, his 2023 WGA Chair initiative: The Heat Beneath Our Feet.  

MLB considers Utah: this week, Major League Baseball insider Jeff Passan released a detailed look at which cities could land the newest MLB teams if the league chooses to expand. His deep dive concluded with one clear front-runner for a new team in the West: Salt Lake City.  

As part of his reporting, Passan sat down with Governor Spencer Cox, who made a strong case for MLB baseball in Salt Lake City. The area already has a shovel-ready stadium site at The Power District, a committed ownership group with the Larry H. Miller Company, and a committed base of fan support ready to adopt a new team.  

“In a very polarized country, sports is something that brings us together,” Governor Cox said in the interview. “We’re really proud of that, but we also have a vision for what this could look like and should look like.”