Update, 10/29/10: PG&E Suspends WaveConnect Project Off Humboldt County.
See their press release for more information. When available, additional information will be posted on the PG&E WaveConnect webpage. The information on this webpage will be retained for archival purposes.
On February 26, 2007 Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a Preliminary Permit for its proposed Humboldt WaveConnect Project. This project will use offshore Wave Energy Collector (WEC) devices to transform the energy of ocean waves into electricity. A subsea transmission cable will carry electricity from the project site to the shore, where it will interconnect with PG&E's transmission and distribution infrastructure.
PG&E initially requested a preliminary study area of approximately 136 square miles, located off the coast of Eureka and the Samoa Peninsula. During the initial phase this area was studied to evaluate suitable locations for the WEC devices. PG&E requested the larger study area so it can optimize the location of the WECs.
The Humboldt WaveConnect study site currently is an approximately 18-square statute mile rectangle located between two and three nautical miles off the Coast of Humboldt County. PG&E has been granted permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to conduct baseline environmental studies within this area (see actual permit below). With the help of local stakeholders and regulatory agencies, PG&E is looking to further reduce the study area to approximately one square nautical mile.
The second phase of the pilot program will involve a 5 MW test facility, where a number of different WEC devices will be installed and evaluated. The present plan is to select a maximum of four WEC technologies for the study location, each with an array of one or more devices. If these tests prove successful, the project will eventually be built out to a maximum of 40MW generation capacity (approximately 25% of Humboldt County's present electricity needs).
Public Meetings
WaveConnect Project Documents
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Documents
To conduct a full search of FERC documents for this project, visit the FERC Docket Search page, and enter docket number "P-12779" (without quotation marks).
Humboldt Working Group
In July 2009, PG&E formed a Humboldt Working Group (HWG) to engage with locals on regulatory, social, economic, environmental, and other topics relating to the Waveconnect project. The Redwood Coast Energy Authority is a member of the HWG.
Related Links:
