Power From The Oceans Could Ease Energy Crisis, According To Energy Info Source, Inc.

Business Editors

LAKEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2001

In the country's current energy conundrum, much lip service (and some actual attention) has been paid to alternative forms of energy, such as fuel cells, wind turbines and solar power.

However, very little attention has been paid to what may be the biggest and best alternative energy source of them all -- ocean power -- according to Caroline Victoria in the latest edition of the Power Observer newsletter.

In her article, Victoria states that ocean power research had been the domain of the government for many years. However, the U.S. Department of Energy dissolved its ocean power programs in the late 1980's when an assessment concluded that the technology's potential was too small to play a significant role in the nation's energy needs. Now, with high natural gas and electricity prices, private enterprise is taking the lead in pushing this technology forward.

In December 2000, Wavegen, a Scottish renewable energy company, began operation of the world's first large commercial wave energy station, a 500 kW oscillating water column plant on the island of Islay which generates power under a 15-year power purchase contract with Scottish & Southern Energy and Scottish Power. More recently, Blue Energy, a Canadian company, has proposed to implement a tidal current system in the Pacific Northwest. The system would use a technology similar to that of a 1,000 MW plant that Blue Energy plans to build in the Philippines where the water current would turn an underwater "windmill."

The complete story is available in the June 18 issue of the Power Observer. Other stories covered in the latest issue of the Power Observer include:

-- Deregulation has been going on in the United Kingdom for 10 years now. Have
they done it any better that the United States?

-- An Internet retail energy company dies. What does this mean for dot-coms in
the energy business?

-- Co-ops and munis get together to try to form a different kind of RTO. Will
they be able to get it off the ground?

-- Two experts discuss whether or not we really have an energy crisis. What
needs to be done to solve current energy woes?

-- A fuel cell manufacturer rides an IPO to the heavens before crashing back
down to earth with unfulfilled expectations. Will it rise again?

Energy Info Source's Power Observer is a new, biweekly newsletter for energy industry professionals. A free three-issue trial is available by emailing Energy Info Source at [e-mail] or calling 888/986-2250. Please indicate whether you would like the trial issue delivered via email or postal mail (North America only). If postal mail, please provide a mailing address. For more information on Energy Info Source, Inc. visit http://www.energyinfosource.com.