The first large site in the continental U.S. for testing technologies that generate electricity from ocean waves is now open after securing a key green-energy approval from the Trump administration. The federal approval is notable because President Donald Trump has created massive hurdles for clean energy, particularly offshore wind. His government has implemented policies that slow energy permitting and development, canceled billions in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects and spent nearly $4 billion to buy back leases to stop offshore wind projects.
But Trump officials see promise in harnessing the power of the ocean's waves. Companies can now bring wave energy technologies off the coast of Oregon to PacWave South to test their ability to generate power in the open ocean and deliver it to the local grid. The goal is to advance an industry that's still in its infancy but has enormous potential for cleanly generating large amounts of electricity.
Oregon State University developed the test facility. After Trump returned to office in 2025, PacWave had to pass a “go/no-go” review at the Energy Department that required approval by the energy secretary to open, PacWave Director Dan Hellin said. Hellin said the approval came through last summer and they connected to the grid this summer.
But the facility has yet to generate any electricity because no wave energy devices have arrived, with developers facing delays in federal funding. Marine energy refers to power generated from tides, currents or waves The Department of Energy has invested nearly $150 million since 2016 in the facility's siting and construction costs. The university is marking the facility’s opening Thursday in an invitation-only event.
Bringing PacWave South online will help streamline the testing and permitting process that has held back marine energy for decades, an Energy Department spokesperson said in a statement. Burning coal, oil and natural gas for electricity emits carbon dioxide, trapping heat in the atmosphere and warming the planet. By contrast, marine energy is carbon-free.
It has the potential to power about 57% of U.S. electrical needs, according to federal estimates. The Energy Department says that even if only a small portion of this is captured, marine energy technologies would make significant contributions to America’s energy system. The department also says the wave energy devices that will be tested at the PacWave site can enhance national security, in contrast to its characterization of wind energy.
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