Marine wave, tidal and other hydrokinetic power sources are shown on a map of the U.S and its territories. (Courtesy the National Renewable Energy Laboratory).

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series, in which the author looks at the potential of marine energy off California, focused on the Mendocino Coast. Part 1 looked at wind energy. Part 2 is a look back and into the future of wave energy.

FORT BRAGG, 6/8/21 — Imagine a gigantic electric plug coming out of the ocean that could provide power from waves offshore for Fort Bragg, Mendocino, Eureka and more. That was once the coastal vision of wave energy proponents ranging from Southern California real estate speculators to oil giant Chevron. But that wave of proposals, led by PG&E’s WaveConnect, disappeared more than a decade ago.

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Frank Hartzell is a freelancer reporter and an occasional correspondent for The Mendocino Voice. He has published more than 10,000 news articles since his first job in Houston in 1986. He is the recipient...