PROMOTINGtheCOMMUNITY
 

Chamber member selected to build commercial
wave energy device
 

Governor Kulongoski and Speaker of the House Dave Hunt were in Clackamas Friday December 4 to announce that North Clackamas County Chamber member, Oregon Iron Works, has been selected by Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. to begin construction of its first commercial wave energy PowerBuoy® system in North America, to be installed off the Oregon coast near Reedsport. Oregon Iron Works, with an emerging reputation as an international leader in “green tech” manufacturing was chosen for the partnership as a direct result of Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski’s leadership in bringing green jobs and renewable energy to the Oregon economy and his commitment to the responsible development of wave energy as a commercially viable renewable energy source.

“This is a great job creation opportunity and I was honored to be at this important announcement event” stated Wilda Parks, President/CEO of the North Clackamas County Chamber.

Construction of this first PowerBuoy system represents Phase One of an expected 10-PowerBuoy Reedsport wave power station, the first commercial-scale facility of its type in North America, which will generate approximately 1.5 megawatts of electricity. The nine additional PowerBuoys will be constructed and installed under Phase Two of the project.

OPT and OIW estimate that construction of the first PowerBuoy PB150 wave energy device, rated at a capacity of 150 kilowatts, will create or sustain approximately 30 jobs over the next nine months.  Phase two of the project will create or sustain over 150 jobs.

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. is a pioneer in wave-energy technology that harnesses ocean wave resources to generate reliable, clean and environmentally-beneficial electricity. OPT is headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey with offices in Warwick, UK.

Oregon Iron Works, Inc., member of the North Clackamas County Chamber of Commerce since 1995, is a world-class complex metal fabricator and systems integrator, with precision machining capabilities. OIW works with various industries, including marine, ocean renewable energy, aerospace, hydroelectric, nuclear, bridge, commercial, and defense manufacturing. OIW has extensive experience in all levels of metal fabrication, from custom design and prototype development to large-scale production, outfitting, and testing. Founded in 1944 in Portland, OR, this innovative small business has been under the same management since 1974. It has nearly 400 employees and is headquartered in Clackamas, OR with additional manufacturing facilities in Vancouver, WA.