This blog was co-authored by Katie Stokes.

This is the third of five blogs in a series where the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will be highlighting states throughout our region and their role in the wind industry. Slip Ring Assembly

South Carolina’s wind resource is vast; however, no large-scale wind farms have been built onshore or offshore of the Palmetto state. Nearly 5,500 megawatts (MW) of onshore wind resource exists in South Carolina, and another 130,000 MW resides offshore. A single megawatt of wind capacity can generate enough electricity for up to 300 homes. Modern onshore wind turbines are generally 2 MW in capacity, and offshore wind turbines are currently available up to 5 MW.

In 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy published a report on how to achieve 20% of the nation’s electrical supply from onshore and offshore wind power. In that report, the DOE estimated that South Carolina would supply between 1,000 MW to 5,000 MW of onshore and offshore wind energy combined by 2030. Up to 20,000 manufacturing jobs would be created in South Carolina from this scenario. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that for every one megawatt of offshore wind capacity built, more than 20 jobs are created.

Even though no utility-scale wind energy has been developed in South Carolina, the state is generating a lot of interest from the wind industry. In 2009, Santee Cooper, Coastal Carolina University and the South Carolina Energy Office began the Palmetto Wind Research Project to study the state’s offshore wind resource. In 2010, Clemson University broke ground in North Charleston to develop a $98 million advanced drive-train test facility for offshore wind turbines – the largest single investment in the state’s history. The facility will be able to test turbine drive-trains from 5 MW to 15 MW in capacity and is serving as a magnet to attract new manufacturers to set up shop.

Already several companies in South Carolina work in the wind industry, even though the state has no large-scale wind farms installed. The following is a non-exhaustive list of companies located in South Carolina who serve wind industry customers:

Wind Manufacturing Jobs in Job-Years (2030) - U.S. Department of Energy's 20% Windpower by 2030 report, 2008

Despite the wind energy industry presence in South Carolina, if the state is going to achieve the Department of Energy’s scenario to develop up to 5 gigawatts worth of wind capacity and generate up to 20,000 in-state manufacturing jobs by 2030, the state will need to recognize renewable energy as a valuable economic engine. South Carolina must develop a renewable portfolio standard and the state’s federal delegates should propose and support stable tax incentives for the wind industry. If you would like to get involved in promoting renewable energy in South Carolina, be sure to check out SACE’s Advokit.

Be sure to read the other blogs in this series for Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.

Together we’re making a lasting impact across the Southeast.

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