SO CAROLINA SEES JOBS IN WIND

Wind Could Bring Energy & Jobs To South Carolina
February 13, 2009 (Cattle Network)

"Energy from winds that blow within miles of South Carolina's coast have the potential to power more than a million homes across the state and create thousands of jobs, a panel of experts said…In the Charleston area alone, an additional 1.5 gigawatts of electricity will be needed to power a population boom that is expected to see 1 million people move to the region by 2025…

"Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, director of business development for the Clemson University Restoration Institute…told the ninth annual ThinkTEC Innovation Summit…that South Carolina stands to benefit from wind power as a natural energy resource."

South Carolina has exploitable offshore wind. (click to enlarge)

"A growing coastal population will strain existing electricity resources, pushing demand for new sources…relatively shallow offshore waters are ideal for wind-farm construction and Charleston's state-of-the-art cargo port will help the flow of construction supplies."

click to enlarge

"…South Carolina utility Santee Cooper has committed to generating 40 percent of its power from non-greenhouse gas and biomass sources by 2020…In hard numbers, the economic impact of wind power represents 22 jobs per megawatt, she said. One gigawatt equals 1,000 megawatts.

"Gene Eidson, restoration ecology director at the Restoration Institute, told the summit that these population shifts and corresponding energy demands will require careful management of our natural resources… "