PG&E ends Humboldt wave energy project

From today’s T-S:

The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has announced that it is suspending its effort to develop a wave energy project off the coast of Humboldt County.

The utility cited “significant permitting challenges” and higher-than-expected projected costs. The proposed configuration and location of the project made it unviable, PG&E said in a statement.

The WaveConnect project was touted as first of its kind. PG&E wanted to test three to four different types of wave power generators in an area 1/2-mile wide and 2 miles long about 3 miles to sea roughly west of Arcata. The utility had said that intense wave activity off the Humboldt coast, and the chosen area’s proximity to a working harbor, made the site ideal.

PG&E WaveConnect map and comments

Prelim map.

Comments after the jump:
More Details

April Meeting Minutes

View April’s minutes here.

WaveConnect update

Folks can either comment on the DPLA directly to PG&E through the WaveConnect email account listed online (waveconnect@pge.com) or they can file comments with FERC. To file a comment with FERC they can go to the eComment page of the FERC website:http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp, click on the green eComment link and follow the instructions to submit a comment. They will need the Humboldt WaveConnect DPLA filing Docket Number: P-12779-005.

As far as the latest project summary, see the Fact Sheet in the February Public meeting materials on the WaveConnect Website: http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/shared/environment/pge/waveconnect/humboldt_waveconnect_public_meeting_fact_sheet.pdf

Of course, things are changing rapidly on the project so best to bookmark the WaveConnect Website and keep up with the conversation through meeting information posted there.

WaveConnect update

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has formally noticed PG&E’s filing of the Draft Pilot License Application (DPLA) and Notice of Intent to file a Final Pilot License Application for the Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project. This notice can be found on the FERC website at the following link: http://elibrary.FERC.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20100303-3011.

February Meeting Minutes

View February’s minutes here.

PG&E wave project sets out into unfamiliar waters

From the T-S:

John Driscoll/The Times-Standard

Click photo to enlarge

EUREKA — The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is weeks away from submitting an application to the federal government for a first-of-its kind project to test wave energy devices off the Humboldt County coast.

The pilot project could be a proving ground for the large-scale production of energy from waves, but a host of environmental and economic concerns will have to be addressed before that can happen. At a public meeting at the Veteran’s Hall Tuesday night, a working group made up of representatives from PG&E, state and federal agencies, commercial and sport fishing interests, and surfing and environmental groups outlined the promise and potential effects of new technologies.
More Details