2016 Summit – Jason Busch
Jason Busch
Executive Director, Oregon Wave Energy Trust
Jason Busch is Executive Director of Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET), a nonprofit public-private
partnership funded by the Oregon Innovation Council to support the responsible development of marine energy in Oregon and the jobs this new industry will create.
OWET serves as a connector for all stakeholders involved in marine energy project development – from research and development to early stage community engagement and final deployment and energy generation – positioning Oregon as the North American leader in this nascent industry, and delivering its full economic and environmental potential for the state. OWET was named a finalist in Sustainable Business Oregon’s 2012 Innovation in Sustainability awards.
Prior to joining Oregon Wave Energy Trust, Mr. Busch was Principal at Sustainable Legal Solutions LLC, where he provided legal services specializing in renewable energy company start-ups and project development. Previously, he was an attorney for Ater Wynne and Stoel Rives in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Busch holds a B.A. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and a M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Southern Mississippi. He received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 2006 from the University of Oregon School of Law, graduating with honors and admitted to the Order of the Coif.
Our Changing Energy System
Although it may not be obvious to the casual observer, there is a worldwide energy revolution underway. From China to Africa, Europe to the Americas, many aspects of the energy system are changing, and the vast majority of new installed energy capacity comes from renewable resources, largely wind and solar. This revolution results from several stimuli, including the need to address carbon and other forms of pollution, dwindling resources, national security, and good business, among others. While wind and solar technologies are largely mature and have moved significantly down the price curve, other technologies are nascent, but have tremendous potential and promise. Marine renewable energy refers to a suite of technologies that derive energy from the ocean, including its waves, tides, currents, temperature gradients, and winds. These resources have attributes that make them highly valuable, if they can be converted efficiently, safely, and cheaply. The Pacific Northwest is on the cutting edge of developing these technologies, and we may see these technologies come online in the next ten years. This presentation will present the state of these technologies, with a special emphasis on the work done to date in the Northwest and on what the future may hold.