South Carolina is ideally positioned to capture a substantial share of the growing wind energy market in the United States. Already home to international wind component manufacturers like General Electric, IMO Group, and Prysmian, South Carolina has the potential to significantly expand this industrial base.
Our existing ports, infrastructure, and competitive labor market all compliment a shallow water offshore wind resource in the Palmetto State that ranks 2nd on the east coast.
The US Department of Energy estimates that tens of billions of dollars in revenue and up to 20,000 jobs could accrue in South Carolina by 2030 if we were to establish ourselves as the east coast’s industrial hub for wind manufacturing.
By adopting policies that eliminate current market barriers and enable prudent clean energy investments, the SC Legislature can generate leverage for projects like the CURI Large Turbine Drive-Train Test Facility in North Charleston and Santee Cooper’s 40MW Palmetto Wind Initiative.
As the wind energy market emerges along the East Coast and turbines continue to grow in size and weight, South Carolina is strategically positioned to serve as an industrial hub for this evolving industry.
- John Kelly, Clemson University Restoration Institute, Executive Director
Additional information about offshore wind and SC
The Clemson University Restoration Institute outlines the SC Wind Collaborative
The SC Offshore Wind Regulatory Task Force
The SC Offshore Wind Legislative Study Committee
SCETV’s The Big Picture takes a look at offshore wind potential in SC:
Watch Wind Turbine Testing on PBS. See more from wrlk.
Land-based Wind
While South Carolina’s strongest and largest wind resources lie off our coast, technological advances in the turbine industry may soon make development of the state’s land-based wind resources cost-effective. Taller installations tap into stronger winds, and more advanced turbines generate electricity more efficiently at lower wind speeds. One important benefit of land-based wind is that landowners, especially farmers, can earn much needed supplemental income by leasing relatively small amounts of land to wind project developers.