The
AquaBuOY 2.0 is now investigating the seafloor off Newport rather than wave energy.
Finavera announced yesterday the completion of their piloting project for the buoy, leaving it behind last Saturday when it
accidentally sunk to the seafloor. We all have lots of questions on this one and are investigating the issue thoroughly. To read the official press release from Finavera, see the link below. What questions remain? There's permitting and insurance complication with when and how the salvage effort will occur. The rumors are flying that this might not come out until spring...what if it gets covered with sand and can't be removed, what if it does move and threatens public saftey on the beaches and in the surf and just what kind of precedent does this delayed salvage set for future projects. Other questions remain about the buoy's design, why it sunk, what it's currently doing to the benthic habitat and marine life and how it may affect crabbers this season. If nothing else this points to the need for small piloting projects and serious planning for build out of projects. I think we all support a green future for energy but we have to make sure it's really green...there was a time we thought hydro was green...the salmon would argue otherwise. More to come...
Finavera-NewsRelease.pdf