AP: Scientists Try to Harness Wave Energy

[krkaufman]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1069186&page=1

"There's a real good chance that Oregon could turn into kind of the focal point in the United States for wave energy development and I think that would be a boon to the economy," said Gary Cockrum, spokesman for the Central Lincoln People's Utility District.

...

Last Friday at the Port of Umpqua office in Reedsport, officials from Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon State University, Electrical Power Research Institute and other federal and state officials gathered to explain the fledgling project to more than 100 southern Oregon Coast residents.

...

Money is the biggest obstacle. It will take about $5 million to complete the project's initial phases. But the recently passed federal energy bill could reduce much of that burden.

Just think what could've been accomplished with all the money spent on the Iraq war.

[silverweb]

1. Some obstacle.

"It will take about $5 million to complete the project's initial phases."

That's peanuts compared to the money wasted on other nonsense and the potential this technology has!

[slor]

2. That really is peanuts!

I cannot believe they are not trying to raise investment capital, they could have that amount in days.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. The wastefulness of Bush

Cost of a mission to Mars, with all the trimmings, 3-5 years (6-18 months on planet), crew of 20, two spacecraft, two lander/return vehicles: $400 billion (Zubrin)

Cost of developing a new, rrenewable, "low-carb" energy technology from design to proof-of-principle: $1-50 million

Cost of the war on Terrah (through FY2006): $500 billion (OMB)

Cost of attacks of 9/11/01 (actual replacement + insurance payouts): <$90 billion (figure seen on a newsfeed picked up from Yahoo!)

Cost of the Bush Administration to the American Public: $5.5 trillion (OMB)

I got $300 back on my taxes -- ONE YEAR.

Bush will certainly find his way into the history books. Luckily, he chooses not to read them.

--p!