"It's still an emerging technology," Bedard said. "They have done small-scale testing, and then there are a whole bunch of guys still in the laboratory."
Industry officials hope that the cost of ocean energy will one day make it an attractive alternative, but they face a debate over the effect on the environment, the fishing industry and ocean views.
O'Malley has twice traveled to Ireland since taking office last year, in part to promote economic ties with the country, though the Democratic governor said yesterday that he didn't meet with Wavebob officials then.
Next week, O'Malley plans to travel to Israel on a six-day trade mission. He is scheduled to deliver a presentation to the BioMed conference on drug and medical-device commercialization in Maryland and will hold a breakfast for business leaders in Tel Aviv. He plans to meet with companies such as Teva Pharmaceuticals, which acquired Rockville-based CoGenesys Inc. this year.
The trip, organized by the Maryland/Israel Development Center, includes meetings with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The center is a nonprofit group created to encourage trade and investment with the country. A delegation of 20 science and Jewish community leaders will accompany O'Malley, according to the center.
laura.smitherman@baltsun.com
