The West Coast Wave Collaborative Project members shared the aspirations of its industry, research, government and community affiliates. With its buoys about to be launched they were able to announce local community and First Nation support and commit to public data access as well as model development and research. The Ucluelet mayor attended along with their economic development corporation.

 

Calgary's New Energy Corp began development of the EnCurrent generators in Shuswap and now have two 25kw generators soon to go online in the Kootenays, while the development of the marine 250kw devices are being developed for Canoe Pass. They were able to share an emerging list of worldwide projects and the emergence of a business model of distribution through regional resellers.

 

The forum was OREG's first opportunity to publicly celebrate Alstom's acquisition of the development rights for the Clean Current tidal generator and clearly all participants were excited to see the licensing model open an opportunity for the Vancouver-developed technology to go to a world market via the Minas Basin project in Nova Scotia.

 

But the forum was also an opportunity to reinforce the BC engagement with Pacific North West neighbours. Oregon's Wave Energy Trust chair updated progress on the enabling projects, most to be completed by January, and reviewed likely areas of focus for the next couple of years. OREG has an affiliation agreement with OWET, has been involved in launch of some of their projects, has members carrying out some of them and sees most as being useful in levering the sector ahead in Canada as well. Ex-OWET Executive Director, Stephanie Thornton, came to share thoughts on launching an effort to build the larger strategic plans needed to ensure that ocean energy is able to deliver on its promise. The absence of that level of strategy has long been a concern of OREG and we have been working with her to explore models for national and regional strategy development.

 

Through alternate energy task forces, energy plan developments and other initiatives, OREG has pushed for BC to have an emerging energy pathway that can ensure access and development of the energy and economic opportunities in its unique ocean energy resource option. BC Hydro used this meeting to publicly launch their Alternative and Emerging Energy strategy. This is an important beginning which can be built on. OREG has endorsed their proposal to the Clean Energy Fund with the hope that it can launch a small market driver for the first BC pilots. OREG has been working with BC's Climate Action Secretariat, looking at how the clean electricity sector will make future economy contributions and help diversify electricity resources to reduce climate change impact risks. Feedback from the secretariat included an update on the Western Climate Initiative that suggested that carbon pricing is likely to become a driver for emerging clean energy sooner rather than later, and highlighted that novel inter-industry sector interests might emerge as an opportunity with new firm power partners working with local wave, tidal and in-stream opportunities to provide a greater value.

 

The coffee break and a reception were high-energy schmooze opportunities, re-engaging old contacts and with many critical new ones launched. OREG will now look at the potential value of more of the regional initiatives for the future.