Offshore staff
SACRAMENTO, California — California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California Senate Bill 605 (SB 605) into law. The legislation directs the California Energy Commission to evaluate the feasibility of wave and tidal energy in California, including the costs and benefits of implementing the technology across the state’s coastline.
The California Energy Commission will work with various state agencies and stakeholders to identify suitable locations for wave energy and tidal energy projects in both Californian and federal waters. This comes after California’s State Legislature set 2045 as its target for a 100% renewable and zero-carbon power grid, with its first benchmark target being 90% by 2035. As of 2022, net-zero carbon and renewable energy made up 54.23% of California’s total energy supply.
SB 605 requires the California Energy Commission to produce a written report by 2025 to the governor and the legislature on their findings, including any “considerations that may inform legislative and executive actions to facilitate, encourage, and promote the development and increased use of technologically and economically feasible wave energy and tidal energy technologies, infrastructure and facilities in the state.”
A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that wave and tidal energy have the potential to generate 30% of America’s energy needs. The NREL, an R&D center sponsored by the US Department of Energy, also found that California’s wave energy potential can power about 13 million homes.
Eco Wave Power Global AB, an onshore wave energy developer, says it supports California Governor Gavin Newsom signing SB 605 into law.
The primary sponsor of SB 605 is AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, a 35-acre ocean technology campus. AltaSea will soon be home to Eco Wave Power’s first US pilot station, which Eco Wave says will be the first onshore wave energy station in the US. This pilot station comes after Eco Wave Power has officially connected its EWP-EDF One power station at the Port of Jaffa in Israel to the country’s energy grid. Eco Wave Power will soon begin operations at its landmark station.
10.09.2023
