Wind Power News: South Carolina
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
PSC hears presentations on solar, wind energy
Solar and wind energy boosters gained attention Tuesday from an influential state board that could help decide whether alternate forms of energy expand in South Carolina, a state historically reluctant to embrace non-traditional power sources. The S.C. Public Service Commission spent more than two hours listening to presentations and asking about the expansion of solar and wind in the Palmetto State – and when the session ended, members said they were impressed with what they heard. “I’m sure it’s going . . . Complete story »
Three scandals shatter our trust in the federal government
Three current scandals should concern every American, because they attack our traditional faith in a government of laws, a government that treats all Americans alike and fairly. Americans have always trusted that this was a government where the freedom of speech and the freedom to disagree with the government was sacred. Federal officials could not retaliate against you because you disagree with them. We always realized that in other nations, the government would subject dissidents to added scrutiny and specially . . . Complete story »
Sanford, Colbert Busch differ on Clemson wind turbine stimulus money
Republican congressional candidate Mark Sanford hit the 2009 federal stimulus package that went to Clemson University’s wind turbine effort – where Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch is employed – as an example of bad public policy and a poor return on taxpayer investments. By Sanford’s calculations of Obama administration stimulus figures, the Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility received $43 million and “created or saved” an estimated 134 jobs. When divided, the numbers calculate to about $320,000 per job, he said. “It’s a great . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines could be in the Grand Strand’s future
Tuesday evening an offshore wind energy panel held an open discussion about the future for wind turbines off the Grand Strand’s coast. The panel discussed the future for the Grand Strand and offshore wind energy turbines. “They see an opportunity for not just North Myrtle Beach, but the entire region to insert ourselves into the equation as far as emerging wind energy in South Carolina,” said North Myrtle Beach councilman Greg Duckworth. Our stretch of the beach is best suited . . . Complete story »
Clemson wind-turbine test facility readies for second massive concrete pour
NORTH CHARLESTON – Construction of Clemson University’s Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility at the Restoration Institute reaches another milestone Friday when the foundation for the larger test rig is poured. Beginning late Friday, engineers with Choate Construction will pour 1,900 cubic yards of concrete into a pit 50 feet wide by 100 feet long by 15 feet deep, all resting on 115 seventy foot-deep piles, to form the 15-megawatt test rig foundation. If those piles were placed end-to-end, they would cover . . . Complete story »
South Carolina utility to apply for DOE offshore met tower grant
Santee Cooper expects to submit an application for a US Energy Department (DOE) grant to help finance installation of a meteorological tower off the coast of South Carolina, a possible first step toward an eventual wind farm there, Molly Gore, a utility spokeswoman tells Recharge. The submission deadline in 30 May, with DOE scheduled to award any grants for this project and others on 1 September. The tower could cost $4m. The electric utility, the largest in South Carolina and . . . Complete story »
NMB propels wind energy plans
Wednesday crews began installation of two additional wind turbines in North Myrtle Beach. City leaders say it’s part of the community’s effort to go green and create new industry along the Grand Strand. The first wind turbine was installed last winter. Pat Dowling, spokesman for North Myrtle Beach, said each additional turbine allows a team of researchers to learn more about the sustainability of wind energy on the Grand Strand. “We need to see what the potential is for wind . . . Complete story »
Push is on to fold energy office into Commerce
Moving the S.C. Energy Office into the Department of Commerce would help the state recruit “green” jobs, such as making solar panels and wind turbines. That was the message delivered by Deputy Secretary of Commerce George Patrick at a statewide renewable energy forum held Wednesday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. “Energy would be an attractive tool in our toolbox,” he said. Recently, both BMW and Boeing made green news – the Upstate automaker for tapping a local landfill for . . . Complete story »
City officials split on wind energy
Georgetown, S.C. – Georgetown city officials debate whether or not to allow wind turbines in the area. The City Planning Commission denied a proposal for a test wind turbine at Morgan Park. The unanimous vote will serve as a recommendation to the city council. The city council has the option of agreeing with the commission or overruling the commission’s decision. Officials say the test site could be a 45 foot wind turbine with 6 foot blades. Experts say a turbine . . . Complete story »
Coastal wind power pushed, but Santee Cooper not so sure
WASHINGTON – The strong winds off the Atlantic Ocean could become a cost-effective way to power much of the East Coast – especially North and South Carolina, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia, a new study released Tuesday says. The report by the conservation advocacy group Oceana argues that offshore wind could generate 30 percent more electricity on the East Coast than could be generated by the region’s untapped oil and gas. It predicts that wind from the ocean could be . . . Complete story »
