One of the newest sources of alternative energy is also one of the oldest - water power. The 19th century water wheel, though, bears no resemblance to the 21st century contraptions powered by ocean waves. ___________________________to coalesce around one technology. Quite the opposite, in fact, unconventional ideas are blooming like algae along America's Pacific Coast.

The steady, powerful pounding of the ocean surf at this time of year is a reminder why marine energy developers love the Pacific Northwest. Huge waves crash against the jetties at the mouth of Tillamook Bay on the Oregon Coast. Columns of spray shoot in the air.

"___________________________." Stephanie Thornton is the American program director for the upperly named Wave Energy AS. The Norwegian company is proposing to redesign jetties and breakwaters like these to include electricity generators built inside. "It's designed in such a way that it has open chambers on the wave facing side. And ___________________________this device, water fills these chambers and runs into the back where the turbine is. And basically it's very similar to a hydroelectric dam where water just flows through and drives a turbine."

(1)The wave energy sector has been slow
(2)The wave energy potential is very large here
(3)when the waves crash or hit against