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With the cost of oil and gasoline rising out of control within the past two years, before falling back, then rising again - and in light of the recent oil rig and coal mine disasters, along with past nuclear power plant accidents (Chernobyl and Three Mile Island) - it has become evident that there is an increasingly urgent need for the development of alternate sources of energy.  Especially needed are safe, economically feasible sources of renewable energy, such as ocean wave, tidal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biofuels energy.   

• Tidal energy generators for coastal communities and power grids:

  Construction of a small dam near the far end of a bay, harbor, lagoon, fjord, estuary, or coastal waterway gravitationally connected to the ocean, creating a small artificial tidal basin that becomes sealed off from the ocean, except for a small opening in the dam.  Placement of a reversible hydroelectric generator in the opening of the dam to generate electricity from the flow of water through the dam -- into the basin on the rising tide and out of the basin on the falling tide.  The tidal basins must be constructed at locations that will not disturb natural fish or sea life habitats.  The generators must be screened from the ocean to prevent fish, seaweed, and other solid matter from entering the generators.  The screens must be cleaned frequently (preferably by energy-efficient automatic scrubbers). 

  In some settings, multiple generators in a single dam may be the most efficient arrangement.

  At locations where boats pass between the tidal basin and the open sea, gates in the dam can be constructed so that they can be opened during the hours straddling low and high tides, when ocean level changes are minimal.  The gates do not have to be water-tight.  Small leaks through the gates will not materially affect the energy generation of the facility. 

  Tidal generators can also be placed at locations where there is a natural tidal current of significance, including tidal bores and tidal waves (a term not to be confused with tsunamis, which are not tidal in origin). 

• Ocean wave energy generators for coastal communities and power grids:

  Miniature electric generators constructed in the surf zone to respond to the rapidly rising and falling height of the water surface resulting from ocean waves (even Great Lakes waves) approaching the beach or cliff.  The fluctuations can be amplified by the construction of V-shaped flanks, including a sloping surface under water, that focus the energy into a narrow and shallow collector, containing the generator.  Like with the tidal energy generators, a fish and seaweed screen will likely be necessary around the generator. 

  Multiple wave generators, separated by a few tens of meters, along a given ocean front, are also feasible.

  In some settings, ocean wave and tidal energy generators could be co-located with, or combined with, large or mid-size wind energy turbines and/or solar energy panels.