Ocean Beach may be center of harnessing wave power

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Rant - Ocean Beach may be center of harnessing wave power

The view to the west from Ocean Beach could one day be cluttered with scores of spinning ######s, generating power.

San Francisco under Mayor Gavin Newsom has long explored the possibility of tapping alternative energy sources, including tidal, wave, solar, geothermal and wind power.

The City is reviewing the environmental impacts of a planned project that would place underwater devices off Ocean Beach to harness wave power, which is a nascent form of renewable energy. The review and its approvals are expected to wrap up within a year.

City leaders are starting to think that construction of the wave power project could help them assess the viability of a more visually striking proposal: a wind farm.

Source: Read the Full Examiner Story
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rant by burro
5 comments
acrarer
1 year ago

If I remember the 2nd law of thermodynamics correctly, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. So to harness energy from waves, you are actually removing energy from waves. . . doesn't bode well for surfing.

Might be better if they set this up a little further south where the coastline's not used so much for recreation no?

Someone should write a letter.

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sandcastle
1 year ago

not removing energy, just transferring it.

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acrarer
1 year ago

ummm. . . nice try. actually, removing and transferring. they're sort of synonymous.

transferring something from A to B means removing it from A and placing it in B.

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Sea-spout
1 year ago

It's the 1st law of thermodynamics, conservation of energy. Fortunately for Acrarer and other concerned folks, the likelihood of this project developing is so remote that I'm surprised it made that much press. Still, it did initiate the 1st law of NIMBYism, raise fears even if you don't know any facts.

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john_galt
1 year ago

Maybe BP would like to put in a bid? This would be ruin for OB...

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