Ocean Energy: Will it make a splash?

With concern for the elevation of sea levels, major cities around the world are using the excess water to their advantage. The September 2006 Scientific American explores this different type of energy and the changes that are being made to it to make it more efficient. Up until this point, ocean energy has been left behind by wind energy; but according to the ocean energy leader at the Electric Power Research Institute, Roger Bedard it will not be along until the technology will catch up. China, Portugal, Nova Scotia, New York and Britain are all setting up programs to harness the energy from the oceans. Even though environmental groups say that setting up the generators necessary to harness the energy, estuarine ecosystems would be in trouble. However, according to Peter Fraenkel of Marine Current Turbines, the turbines (generators) that they have created have a less impact on the ecosystems than dams do. I think that switching to ocean energy both the environment and people benefit. Even though it might interfere with the estuarine ecosystems, it still will lessen the impact that other fuels, such as petroleum, have the environment.