Date: 10/29/2014

On October 29, Coastal Carolina University hosted a wind energy forum to engage industry experts, academics, and state and local leaders in a discussion about advancing offshore wind energy opportunities in South Carolina and the Southeast. Coastal Carolina University is a partner in the DOE's Southeast Wind Energy Resource Center. Local leaders from both sides of the aisle were in attendance to show their support for wind energy. As Representative Alan Clemmons said, "This is not a partisan issue—it is a win-win for South Carolina."

Senator Thomas Alexander, chairman of the Public Utility Review Committee, noted that all South Carolinians have a common goal for a clean environment and a robust economy. South Carolina and other southeastern states have significant advantages in the burgeoning offshore wind industry. Highlighting and taking advantage of these strengths was a key focus of the forum.

North Charleston is home to the DOE Drivetrain Test Facility at Clemson University, a unique facility capable of testing the next generation of wind turbines. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the southeastern states have the largest shallow-water offshore wind resource potential on the East Coast. And according to the Energy Information Administration, the southeastern states have the lowest estimated construction cost for offshore wind in the country, with South Carolina topping the list.

Steve Spivey, renewable energy manager at Santee Cooper, provided a utility perspective on the challenges for offshore wind energy, most notably its current cost and the lack of firsthand experience in the region, but he acknowledged that costs are decreasing and the technology represents a significant opportunity for clean energy in the region.

Senator Greg Hembree voiced his support for a market-based approach to advancing the wind industry before outlining a bill that he plans to reintroduce in 2015. The bill would enable the investor-owned utilities in the state to recover the costs of a small-scale demonstration project through their rates. According to Hembree, a project like that would address many of the challenges and data gaps identified and would position South Carolina to attract the future manufacturing and supply chain jobs in the industry.

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