Why Offshore Wind Power?

At a time when global economies are strained by recession, growing competition for existing fossil fuel resources are leading to fluctuating energy prices and concerns over national security. Global energy demand is projected to grow as much as 50% by 2030.

Nearly 78% of the nation’s electrical demand is consumed by the 28 coastal states most of which do not have substantial land based wind resources to develop. These states along the Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes are starting to look at their vast offshore wind potential near their growing demand centers to meet their renewable energy demands.

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 one million people move to the region by 2025, living in 440,000 new homes.

Such coastal population growth will strain existing electricity resources, pushing demand for new energy sources. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that by 2030, one-fifth of electricity generated nationwide will come from coastal or offshore wind farms. South Carolina has the potential to be the site of the first offshore wind farm in the United States and an industrail hub for the entire East Coast and Europe.

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. Development of this resource will diversify the state's energy portfolio, increase energy security, reduce imports of fossil fuels, promote local economic growth and reduce green house gas emissions.

In addition, developing these resources would create thousand of jobs in the state and generate from 2 to 10 billion kwh annually, potentially offseting 2 to 10 million tons of carbon emissions and saving over 2 trillion gallons of water annually.