Making Waves: A New Era for American Renewable Energy
Sunrise at the Port of Los Angeles brings more than just the bustle of cargo ships and cranes. Now,
a bold experiment in harnessing ocean energy is unfolding at this vibrant hub, marking what many hope will be a turning point for America’s pursuit of a cleaner, more inclusive future. Eco Wave Power Global (NASDAQ: WAVE), in partnership with California’s All-Ways Metal, Inc.—a woman-owned local business with over four decades in metal fabrication—has announced the start of U.S.-based manufacturing for its groundbreaking wave energy project. This move comes on the heels of key regulatory wins, including permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Los Angeles, clearing the path for installation by this summer.
Why does this project matter? Unlike wind and solar, wave energy remains an untapped wellspring, brimming with potential but rarely realized at scale. The United States, with thousands of miles of coastlines, lags behind Europe in commercializing ocean energy. By investing in local manufacturing and partnerships, Eco Wave Power aims to not only deploy cutting-edge technology but also empower local economies. Jobs, greener ports, and resilient infrastructure—these are pillars of the vision driving this initiative in Los Angeles.
According to the International Energy Agency, wave and tidal power could technically provide up to 10% of the world’s electricity demand. Yet in 2023, renewables accounted for only a fraction of global wave energy production. Disrupting this status quo, the Los Angeles pilot looks to set an example for other U.S. cities and prove that harnessing the sea’s relentless motion can be both practical and profitable.
From Steel to Sustainability: The Power of Local Manufacturing
The partnership between Eco Wave Power and All-Ways Metal, Inc. is about more than machinery or technology—it’s a template for the kind of community-focused green innovation progressives have long urged the nation to pursue. All-Ways Metal, as a woman-owned enterprise rooted in California for over 40 years, brings expertise and a local workforce to a clean-tech sector often accused of offshoring opportunity. These floaters—key elements of Eco Wave Power’s proprietary system—will be produced just a short drive from where they’ll ultimately rest on Municipal Pier One, supporting local jobs and reducing carbon-intensive shipping costs.
Melissa Ortiz, co-owner of All-Ways Metal, notes, in a phone interview, that her workers “see themselves as part of something larger—helping redefine what a sustainable port can be.” That sentiment echoes across the labor and environmental communities in Los Angeles, where air quality, economic opportunity, and progressive environmental leadership are political priorities. The project’s timeline is ambitious: delivery of floaters within 70 days signals a commitment to expeditious yet responsible action. For a port long choked by diesel emissions and industrial sprawl, this is a breath of fresh air—and a sharp contrast to Republican-backed fossil fuel expansions that would further entrench polluting industries.
“When we talk about the energy transition, it can’t just be about megawatts and grid upgrades—it has to be about building something lasting here at home, for our kids,” Melissa Ortiz told us. “Local fabrication is proof that these jobs aren’t a distant promise. They’re here and now.”
Beyond that, Eco Wave Power’s strategic choice to manufacture domestically aligns with the Biden administration’s goals for resilient supply chains and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) best practices. It’s a practical, people-first approach that short-circuits conservative criticisms of green spending as wasteful or disconnected from real communities. Harvard energy policy scholar Dr. Alicia Hernandez underscores the point: “Localization of clean energy supply chains amplifies climate benefits, strengthens economic security, and builds public buy-in precisely where it’s needed most.”
Riding Out Industry Headwinds: Policy, Finance, and the Future of Wave Power
Innovation often arrives hand-in-hand with risk, and Eco Wave Power is no exception. The company’s embrace of U.S. manufacturing and regulatory green lights comes amid sobering financial realities. Despite long-term vision, Eco Wave Power has posted negative earnings and cash flow, and Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, describes its stock trend as bearish. Rapid expansion plans—installations are also underway in Taiwan and Portugal—strain finances but underscore the company’s global ambition. Critics point to these weaknesses, leveraging market volatility to cast doubt on the viability of emerging clean tech, but the history of renewable energy is full of similar stutters before breakthroughs. Consider the early days of wind and solar, when naysayers in state legislatures dismissed them as “boutique” or “unpredictable,” only for them to become economic juggernauts in less than two decades.
So, what will it take to see wave energy scale up, not stall? First, robust public policy. Federal incentives, local clean energy mandates, and sustained R&D funding remain essential to bridge the so-called “valley of death” for new technologies. The L.A. wave energy project benefitted from supportive licensing, but as the U.S. continues to polarize politically on climate, progressive lawmakers must double down, extracting lessons from Europe’s earlier missteps—where inconsistent funding often stymied ocean energy. Second, private sector innovation and accountability will matter; partnerships with major players like Shell Marine Renewable Energy lend credibility but also demand delivery.
Which brings us back to the human side of the story. Politicians who rail against renewables often ignore what clean tech projects like the L.A. wave system signify: not just clean electrons but good union jobs, cleaner air for disproportionately impacted neighborhoods, and proof that progressive policy can deliver. A closer look reveals that the Eco Wave Power initiative could be a blueprint: local, union-friendly, and laser-focused on environmental justice.
Progressive investment in the next generation of renewables shouldn’t be an afterthought, or a casualty of short-term stock fluctuations. If Los Angeles succeeds in turning Pacific swells into sustainable power—and in making ports greener and more equitable—the waves of change could ripple far beyond California’s storied coast.
