Work on an OSU-led wave energy test facility will be visible from shore

Oregon State University is constructing a wave energy testing facility off the Oregon Coast and, weather permitting, some of that work will be visible from shore this month.

PacWaveSouth will be the first utility-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in the U.S. It’s been about a decade of permitting, siting and design, according to OSU Oceanography professor Burke Hales. He’s the chief scientist with PacWave.

“We will have a large vessel. It’s called the Seacor Lee (and) she’s out of Anacortes, Washington,” said Hales. “She will make a brief stop in Newport’s Yaquina Bay. And then be out on site for most of the rest of August. Initially, she’ll be very close to shore, just about a mile offshore of Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site, which is just south of Seal Rock, just north of Waldport on the Oregon Coast.”

Portions of the parking area at Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site will be closed to the public while the work is underway.

“From the beach, that vessel will appear very very close. The vessel will be anchored out there and will be supporting divers who will be preparing the ends of those conduits to be conducive to pulling the cables in next summer,” said Hale.