Wave Energy off Coos Bay, Feb. 6

A Seattle company is expected to locate five floating turbines about 15-miles off Coos Bay in the Pacific Ocean as part of a wind energy pilot project. The 30-megawatt project will be developed by Principle Power in about 1,400 feet of water. It will be the first offshore wind energy farm on the West Coast. Oregon’s Governor John Kitzhaber, along with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Tommy Beaudreau announced the project Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Portland. More than a year ago, Principle Power Inc. received $4 million in Department of Energy funding for the project. It was one of seven companies awarded funding and the only one on the West Coast. The company has now submitted a request to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for a commercial wind energy lease in May 2014. An environmental analysis will follow, along with a public comment period before a final decision is made.