The Portuguese Coast is one of the most energetic in the world, and is the first country to have a commercial-scale wave energy device in the water. Now, they're planning a "pilot zone" for expanding the technology.
"All along the coast, waves are breaking that have traveled many of thousands of miles, gaining energy as they move across the Atlantic. An area off the coast just north of Lisbon has been designated as the "Pilot Zone," which will serve as a testing ground for ocean energy companies. Right now, this area remains lines drawn on a map, as the government has been stalling to allocate the necessary money due to an impending election. Portugal is an attractive market for marine energy developers and utilities because most of the population lives on the western coast of Portugal. Most importantly, where there are people, there are power lines. The infrastructure is easily accessible and devices can be grid connected with relative ease."
FULL STORY: Wave energy in Europe
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research