Miles off the Oregon coast, engineers are preparing to do something the U.S. has never done at scale: turn the motion of the ocean into electricity. At PacWave North, a federally approved test site near Newport, researchers at Oregon State University are laying the groundwork for a technology that could someday power millions of homes — all from the natural rhythm of the sea.
Last month, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) — the federal utility that supplies roughly one-third of the Pacific Northwest’s energy — agreed to buy whatever electricity PacWave produces once it goes live next year. The deal marks a rare federal endorsement for a renewable source that’s long lingered on the edge of possibility.
“We’ve worked for over 12 years to develop this,” said Dan Hellin, PacWave’s director, in an interview with the Oregon Capital Chronicle. “It’s kind of exciting to actually — hopefully soon — have some steel in the water generating power.”
Wave energy isn’t new, but PacWave is the nation’s first grid-connected, open-ocean test site. The premise is simple: harness the rise and fall of ocean waves or tides to drive underwater turbines.
Inside the Infrastructure
The site includes 47 miles of undersea cable, each nearly four inches thick, carrying power back to an onshore substation before connecting to the regional grid.
Four testing “slots” will allow companies to deploy and refine their devices before scaling up to full-size utility projects. Two companies are already preparing to install their prototypes, and when all four are operational, PacWave could generate around 20 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 16,000 homes.
That’s modest compared to major hydro or wind farms, but as a proof of concept, it represents a major step forward for ocean-based renewable power.
Waves That Could Power Millions
Wave and tidal energy could eventually supply up to 6% of U.S. electricity needs, according to Anna-Marie Laura, senior director of climate policy at the Ocean Conservancy. “That would power about 22 million homes,” she said.
Unlike solar or wind, wave energy runs 24/7 and doesn’t depend on weather. Its steady output could complement intermittent renewables, especially for remote coastal, island, or tribal communities that lack reliable grid access.
Crucially, developers and conservationists believe the technology can be deployed without harming marine ecosystems — a point that has eased some of the environmental debates dogging other renewable projects.
Steady Waters in a Shifting Energy Landscape
The test site’s timing is notable. While the Trump administration has slowed or canceled major wind and solar projects nationwide, it has so far shown support for wave and tidal energy.
This summer, Department of Energy Director Chris Wright approved PacWave’s move into the operational phase — a step that lets developers begin installing prototypes as early as next spring. That endorsement, combined with Bonneville’s no-minimum purchase agreement, gives PacWave a rare boost.
The open-ended deal allows the facility to sell every kilowatt it produces — a first for the technology. “We took [the DOE’s operational approval] as a very positive sign for the wave energy, marine energy, industry,” Hellin said.
The Bottom Line
The Pacific Northwest’s energy system is already among the cleanest in the nation, thanks to hydropower. But the region still faces rising electricity demand driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and population growth. Finding new, flexible power sources — especially ones that don’t require new dams or fossil fuels — is critical.
If PacWave succeeds, it could pave the way for commercial-scale ocean power plants that help diversify the grid and anchor new green jobs in coastal communities.
