New assessments of U.S. wave energy and tidal current energy potentials just released mark a milepost in the progress toward these resources’ development. The big takeaway from the authoritative assessments, noted U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Water Power Program Manager Jose Zayas, is the sheer richness of the resources.

Wave energy across the U.S., the assessment found, has a potential equivalent to approximately 400 gigawatts of capacity. “That is significant potential,” Zayas said. And, he added, “It is really diverse. It is almost everywhere.”   “That is significant potential,” Zayas said. And, he added, “It is really diverse. It is almost everywhere.” That means “you can really get close to people and generate electricity mitigating the challenges of building transmission lines,” he explained.