PORTO, Portugal — The air is electric, with the power created by wave energy converter (WEC) developers at the 7th European Wave & Tidal Energy Conference in Porto, Portugal.

There are more than 300 participants from Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, China, Canada and New Caldonia, and only 14 from the U.S. Of the 14, four are from Hawai'i: Maurice Kaya of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Energy Division, Ed Reinhardt of Maui Electric, Dean Peter Crouch of the University of Hawai'i College of Engineering and myself.

The U.S. government is notable by its absence. With minor exceptions, America is taking baby steps on renewable energy, while its regulatory systems and subsidies continue to support polluting fossil fuel and coal as the predominate power sources. In contrast, significant progress is underway in Europe, with a number of WECs providing power.

I spoke at the EWTEC opening session, giving a message from Gov. Linda Lingle, noting that Hawai'i has one of the "most consistent and reliable wave climates in the world" and inviting WEC developers to "consider Hawai'i as an ideal market in which to introduce your products." The response was warm when I encouraged renewable-energy developers to help move Hawai'i from its 92 percent dependence on fossil fuel/coal and toward the use of ocean energy to power homes and businesses.

Hawai'i can learn from Ireland as we both have large wave-energy resources. Ireland, like Hawai'i, imports 90 percent of its fuel. Ireland's presenter explained that its Green Party is in a ruling coalition, which is continuing the opposition party's drive to develop ocean energy. In other words, government is united in this aggressive strategy. Nearly all of Ireland's power needs can be met by ocean energy. It's objectives are 75 megawatts from ocean energy by 2012; 500 megawatts by 2020.

The first part of its four-phase plan — research and development — is completed. The government funded and set up the second phase, the Galway Bay test site. Finavera, Open Hydro, Wavebob and O E Buoy are or will be installing prototypes where grid connection can be tested. By 2010, phase three, full-scale systems, will be tested in the ocean, with phase four, final installation, in 2015. Again, the Irish government will provide the open-sea test site and price support for WEC developers, seeing this as a good opportunity to create well-paying jobs while making Ireland energy self-sufficient.

Contrast Ireland's governmental action with Hawai'i's, where the Legislature has mandated a 20 percent reduction of use of fossil fuel by 2020, but has not provided the funding assistance or sites for wave-energy systems. Similar to Ireland, our wave climate is excellent and consistent; it can provide 100 percent of the power needs of all islands except O'ahu, where it still can provide 80 percent.

The U.S. Electric Power Research Institute explained at the conference that wave energy can be forecast with two-day accuracy, using NOAA Wave Watch III.

Another presenter stated the positive health impacts from reducing fossil fuel and using renewable energy. He noted work by a Danish researcher who has calculated the months/years added to life span in major population areas where fossil fuel is replaced by renewable energy sources, including wave.

On the financial side, the United Kingdom anticipates WECs will not need government subsidies by 2020. In other words, within 13 years, wave energy will be self-sufficient, in contrast to fossil fuel which receives hefty government subsidies. The UK is aiming to install WECs with a capacity of 2 gigawatts by 2020, enough to power 400,000 to 500,000 homes.

So how does Hawai'i catch up? Finavera received its permits for its test device in Oregon within two months. Oregon State University has taken the lead to set up the ocean test area. Oregon, through legislation and aggressive government and university action, has laid out the welcome mat for WEC developers.

The Hawai'i Legislature, joined by the University of Hawai'i, should create a wave-energy zone or wave hub, prepare the programmatic environmental assessment for this test site, mirror Oregon's financial incentives and invite wave-energy companies to hook up. By Maui Electric caring enough to attend this 7th EWTEC, the utility (at least on Maui) is ready to tap into this powerful, clean, renewable energy source. Hawai'i and its environment will benefit by catching this wave.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen represents District 50 (Kailua, Kane'ohe Bay). She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.