Renewable Green Power Energy in The Pacific Northwest
Published by In 2007, renewable green power energy has come to the forefront in Pacific Northwest. Researchers are attempting to develop alternative sources to conventional energy. Most recent studies are focused on wind and underwater turbines including buoys and tidal power. All of these sources come with pros and cons.
Renewable Green Power Energy in the Pacific Northwest
According to Renewable Northwest Project (2007), “Special buoys, turbines, and other technologies can capture the power of waves and tides and convert it into clean, pollution-free electricity.”
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Tacoma Power has obtained a governmental Permit for a tidal power project at Tacoma Narrows, one of the top locations in tidal power in the nation. Snohomish County Public Utility District has been granted initial permits for multiple tidal power sites in the Puget Sound Region (Renewable Northwest Project 2007).
Research indicates that initial cost are more expensive than traditional generating resources, but over time with more funding, experience, and public support, consumers should see a dramatic decrease in price. In 2007 at the time of this research, the cost for wave energy is between 10-30 cents/kWh while Tidal Energy is approximately 8-12 cents/kWh. Future costs could plummet for wave energy to 5-6 cents/kWh, while Tidal Energy is predicted to drop to 4-6 cents/kWh. It has been confirmed that Tidal Energy is more predictable than Wave energy. Tidal energy can be predicted years to centuries in advance (Renewable Northwest Project 2007).
Wave and tidal energy facilities (underwater turbine technology) are relatively new, therefore scientists are not sure of the environmental impacts. Obvious concerns are fisheries and other marine life. Prevention to an environmental upset includes the use of equipment such as sonar at an estimated cost of 1-2 million dollars. Selected sites are carefully planned out to minimize the upset of marine habitat (Renewable Northwest Project 2007).
One of the major concerns to underwater turbine technology is the technological push for this power has been rushed. Researchers such as Brian Polagye, a University of Washington expert in tidal energy have stated “One permit was filed for Deception Pass that proposed putting in 200-foot-diameter turbines in water that is only about 50 feet deep” (Paulson 2007). Apparently, preliminary research was not established before proposal plans were submitted. The rush for this technology came on the heels of Initiative 937. Paulson (2007) claims that Initiative 937 requires Washington Utility Corporations to produce 15 percent or more of electricity from sources, “such as wind, the sun, biomass, and the Earth’s subterranean heat, waves and tides.”
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On September 25, 2009 at 12:45 am
Renewable green energy is essential to solve pollution problems we’re facing nowadays. Great piece, and I clicked you “liked it”.
On September 25, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Excellent piece Chris. This is something everyone should be looking into.
On September 25, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Thank you Chan. We now have a green energy program with our electric company to compliment this recent technology. Our electric company gives discount rates to people who subscribe to their green power. You get credits for switching to lower wattage energy efficient lamps among a number of other things that save electricity.
On September 25, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thank you Lauren! I am still finding articles I wrote awhile ago in deep in the archive of my computer. These are always fun ones to clean up and use as they have already been written. When we switched to green energy through our electric company we are now savings almost $20 per month.
On September 26, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVED READING YOUR ARTICLE!
On September 28, 2009 at 6:58 pm
An excellent article Chris ,very intelligently, put thiers one
green power thats been overlooked !! Read my article
A Radical answer to Mass Unemployment and the Clean Energy Crisis. Food For Thought.
On September 29, 2009 at 8:42 pm
We are getting late to create alternatives to decontaminate our planet. Worth more than the health of our planet? or put the economic interests?
On September 29, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Juancav,
I think that we need to be more respectful and resourceful to our planets resources. Thank you for your support.
chris
On September 30, 2009 at 9:49 am
Excellent article Chris! If we take care of our planet, it will take care of us!
On September 30, 2009 at 10:30 am
Thank you Deb! Yes, we need to take better care of our planet. I would like to think that our technology is leading us in the direction.
Bless you,
Chris
On October 2, 2009 at 6:02 am
we really need to take care of our environment. these will “somehow” slowdown global warming despite some of its negative aspects
On October 23, 2009 at 8:57 am
excellent piece in a great topic.
On October 23, 2009 at 9:09 am
Joshua and Jane,
Thank you for your support and kind comments.
On May 9, 2010 at 7:22 am
Very nice article. I am going to add the first paragraph and a link to my site http://www.nature2energy I hope you get more page views. This is a very nice article.
On August 11, 2011 at 3:37 am
Renewable Green Power Energy in The Pacific Northwest Published by Chris Stonecipher Over the years most people have developed a destructive viewpoint regarding bats.