Wave or Tidal Power in SF

Wow, if one of these alternatives comes to fruition, SF would be a pioneer in harnessing Tidal or Wave energy. I wonder if public ownership might be better, at least you would have better accountability if things go wrong. From the SF Chronicle:

... The ocean energy idea -- which already is taking hold in other parts of the world -- got its first strong push three years ago locally when Newsom's archnemesis, then-Board of Supervisors president and Green Party member Matt Gonzalez, won approval of a resolution calling for a tidal-energy power project. After a couple years of serious study, the nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute concluded:

One: That San Francisco could tap enough wave power at Ocean Beach to keep the entire city lit -- depending, of course, on how large a wave plant it chose to build.

And two: That the tides at the Golden Gate make that spot the best in the entire lower 48 states to produce tidal power, though the potential for installing turbine generators under the bridge is a bit limited by space.

Tidal power, however, is a less expensive energy alternative than wave power. So now comes a second study to address the environmental impact of submerging turbines about 190 feet beneath the Golden Gate -- deep enough, we're told, to avoid any ships running in and out of the bay.

Johanna Partin, the renewable energy program manager for the city's Department of Electricity, says planners have already considered potential threats to fish and other sea life, as well as the possibility of a harmful buildup of silt.

They've concluded that there's little chance of harm -- but to be safe, they are recommending that only a "conservative" 15 percent of the area beneath the Golden Gate Bridge be tapped.