A relatively new concept in alternative and renewable energy production is the use of wave farm technology, that is, harnessing the energy produced by oceanic waves and converting it to electricity. Currently, the United States has no commercial wave farms, but the largest national utility and many additional public utility companies are actively investing in wave energy technology, and recently enacted California state laws requiring public utility companies to acquire 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2010 will assure that this trend to developing more responsible sources of energy will continue.

Wave energy, known as hydroelectric power, is a truly renewable form of energy in that the water used in the production of the electricity can be reused. While the dams required for containment of the oceanic flows are very expensive and require cooperation between large corporations, research facilities and governmental entities to finance and build, as long as there is a sufficiently powerful water supply available, electricity can be continuously generated. Unlike solar energy, which is contingent on the number of sunny days available in a year, the absence of air pollution to interfere with the solar cell collectors, and the negative impact of no energy collection after sunset, wave energy is not affected by any other environmental factor, therefore is a 24/7 operation, continuously.

Hydroelectric power is the most widely used form of renewable energy and over 50 percent of the total hydroelectric power produced in the United States is from power plant locations in California, Oregon and Washington. These coastal states have advanced the technology used to dam the reservoirs of water at different levels to be able to control the output of energy in relation to current demands.

Water has been used, worldwide, as a source of energy since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Use of water to harness energy spans over thousands of years in various forms from ancient aquaducts to waterwheels used to produce water driven electricity to power various manufacturing plants in North America in the 1950’s.

One potential negative impact of hydroelectric power technology is in the direct relation to aquatic habitat. Considerations must be made in effort to prevent disruption of spawning patterns and natural chemical flows for the reproductive efforts of aquatic life. In most cases, problems arising from introduction of new devices to an established waterway are seldom able to be foreseen, and must be addressed once the dilemma has presented itself. As more dams and water energy producing systems are introduced, producers and installers will have the benefit of prior installation issues to aid in preventing future problems.

As research and development continues to progress regarding the use of wave energy technology the U.S. will find itself poised to be the frontrunning source worldwide in the distribution of harnessed water energy. As the U.S. terrirtories are large in geography, and contain many oceanic borders, including Hawaii and the Virgin Islands, the potential for becoming a worldwide supplier of a natural energy source which produces no pollutants or chemical bi-products is a lucrative position to be in.

As we strive to deflect the United States’ dependence on foreign oil sources for energy, the question begins to arise as to whether there is truly an energy source which is completely renewable. A renewable energy source is defined as one that is continually naturally replenished, and the first forms of this energy that come to mind are typically solar and wind energy. As technology develops in both of these fields the fact remains that there are costly modifications to be made in the industries currently supplying our energy. Whether these be modifications of existing systems to coordinate with new energy sources, or construction of entirely new systems to harness and distribute the alternative energy sources, the cost considerations must include the potential longevity of the energy source.

For example, we consider the sun to be a permanent source of energy, and indeed it is for all practical purposes. The question of it’s usability becomes an issue when considering the climate changes that are occurring all over the world. While it seems that the greenhouse effect may actually work in favor of solar energy harnessing, we must also consider increases in air pollution, which disrupt the collection of solar energy, as well as the patterns of intense rain and snow which make solar cells inoperable until weather conditions are cooperative.

The use of wind energy is the fastest growing industry in renewable energy sources, and can also be dramatically altered by the effects of weather and the greenhouse effect. If the wind direction changes, how efficient will the fields of wind turbines continue to be? Will constant changes in wind shear cause the components of the turbines to age prematurely? Is it possible for the wind and weather patterns to change so abruptly that the wind farms will be rendered useless? Can we predict the life expectancy of these machines and plan ahead for the possibility of forced relocation? Of course, these are all questions which should be addressed in the planning phases of staging wind turbine farm locations.

As scientific research technology is beginning to focus more on wave energy harnessing, again we must consider the shift in weather patterns due to global warming, and the effect it may have on the oceanic levels and the directions of the currents. While the ecological impact of current redirections could be detrimental, a compounded issue with loss of energy resources would be devastating. Dramatic rises and drops in water levels due to polar ice cap depletions could result in entire reservoir dams being under water.

The questions seem extremist and paranoid, but considering the dramatic shift in weather patterns in the last thirty years, it seems evident that the climate can rapidly change. In planning for a future where the nation is independent from foreign oil and relies on domestic sources of alternative and renewable energy sources we must prepare for the contingency that dramatic shifts in weather may negatively impact our harvesting of what currently appears to be an unending renewable energy source.