Offshore Wind Wire

A South Carolina legislative task force issued a report this month recommending a near-term offshore wind demonstration project and a leasing framework for state waters.

The report, South Carolina’s Role In Offshore Wind Energy Development, also called for “revenue certainty” for offshore wind developers and 40-80 megawatts of installed offshore wind capacity by 2013.  The study was compiled by the Wind Energy Production Farms Feasbility Study Committee, an 11-person group that included three state senators and three state representatives.  The report was required by state legislation passed in 2008.

“The committee recommends that the state establish a program to provide revenue certainty to offshore wind power production … the program could be equivalent to a feed-in tariff as seen in other states and countries,” the report said.  “The state should negotiate with its state owned utility, Santee Cooper, to purchase wind energy from an offshore wind demonstration project.”

The report called for a state office to oversee offshore wind permitting and a new leasing regime.

“Though existing regulations are in place to permit offshore wind energy projects in state waters, permitting alone may not be sufficient to address all issues that are of interest and concern to the state and to potential investors/energy developers in South Carolina,” the report said.  “A leasing framework could address eligibility, scope, aerial coverage, lease duration, exclusivity, performance, and state compensation issues.  A leasing system would allow the state to evaluate and develop offshore resources, minimize use conflicts, reduce risks to the state and to the user, and result in more certainty for the state and investors.”

The report also encouraged South Carolina officials to form an offshore wind partnership with North Carolina and Georgia.

Last November, Clemson University was awarded a $45 million Department of Energy grant to test drive trains for large offshore wind turbines.