Of the seven wave energy development proposals on the Oregon coast, the Reedsport project is farthest along. Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) is hoping to secure necessary permits to install 14 buoys about 2.5 miles off the coast of Gardiner within the next year or so. Ultimately, OPT hopes to expand to an array of 200 buoys. Surfrider has a formal seat in the state sponsored settlement process that is helping guide how the federal permitting process moves forward. Our priorities include addressing: environmental impacts, conflicts with ocean recreation, public safety, and aesthetics. Recently, Surfrider submitted written arguments for stronger research and monitoring for electromagnetic fields (EMF) that would be produced by project. OPT has already agreed to conduct some field monitoring based on this memo, and discussions are ongoing to determine what field research might be conducted. To read the memo, see first comment to this post. Thanks to Kristen and Stiv for all their support on this!