Energy company Finavera Renewables has certainly had an up and down month. On the upside, the Canadian company opened its U.S. office in Portland, Oregon. On the downside, a $2 million test buoy off the coast of Oregon sank to the bottom of the ocean just hours before it was supposed to be hauled in.

Finavera's buoy did collect substantial data during the two months at sea, and the company hopes to recover it in the spring. The company is a leader in developing wave energy technology as well as participating in wind energy.

Finavera had an open house at its new office -- in a former warehouse district across the river from the more upscale downtown. The company invited the media (including me) and the eco-community to the office to show off its green cred. The office is LEED gold certified, and the company is hoping to attain platinum standing soon. Finavera used recycled wood for the conference tables, recycled glass for the interior office windows, and the work spaces, designed by Ecowork, are also made of recycled products. That's what I call practicing what you preach.

Portland continues to be a hotbed of green developers, and the city opened Finavera with open arms (and wallet) as the company received several grants for opening shop in an area of the city that has been underutilized of late.