GE’s wind turbine manufacturing facility UpState has been cranking out tons of product as of late (see video below), and this morning I see IBM is getting involved with water management around the globe.

If you want a little more information, here are their two webpages to checkout:

• GE wind-power
• IBM’s Advanced Water Management

From the Shem Creek blog.

GE wants wind, IBM claims water

If you’re curious about South Carolina’s offshore wind capacity, the DOE has created a nationwide map of wind currents as they move 50 meters above the surface. Their wind resource map is helping determine whether an area should be further explored as a location for wind power facilities going forward.

After enlarging the map, we can see that all of SC’s coastline is rated either good, excellent, or outstanding as a source of wind power, so when you hear that South Carolina’s potential state tax credit for the development of an off-shore wind farm is $1,063,333, it’s obvious we need to head in that direction.

One of six 10′ weather buoys for measuring winds off the Georgetown coast.
Credit: Santee Cooper

Dr. Mitchell Colgan, chairman of the College of Charleston’s Geology and Environmental Geosciences Department – who’s worked for Shell Oil, the U.S. Geological Survey and three different oil reservoirs in Alaska, New Mexico and Texas – has publicly said “I really don’t think there’s any oil out there” and “…there is no economically recoverable gas off our coast”. With that argument all but closed, we should move full steam ahead on wind power now… and it looks like we are.

With weather buoys being placed offshore at strategic locations to maximize wind monitoring, and workers retraining for wind-energy jobs in this tough economy, things are starting to look interesting in this job-stressed economy.

Using the DOE wind resource map as a guide, projections can be made to make maximize use of South Carolina’s offshore wind capacity (although the map represents wind 50 meters above water level buoys are no where near that high). Still, Santee Cooper hopes to get their monies worth out of R&D and along with grant money from the DOE, we look forward to reaping the benefits of Earth’s natural resources in a non-invasive and environmentally friendly manner going forward.

For more info, be sure to read about the South Carolina Offshore Wind Programs.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Geology expert: no offshore oil or gas, but wind is everywhere

My take away from the article was this piece I feel we are really missing out on here in SC – offshore wind power:

Now is not the time for South Carolina to beg off from meeting expected federal renewable energy standards. Wind alone has the potential to bring ten to twenty thousand manufacturing jobs to South Carolina, according to a study conducted by former Clemson professor, Dr. Nick Regas. He estimated that offshore wind could supply 20 percent of the state’s energy at a cost of $3 million to $5 million per megawatt of installed capacity. That figure compares favorably against a new coal plant — $1.8 billion for 600 megawatts of wind versus $1.3 billion for 600 megawatts of dirty coal for a new plant.

It was mentioned in an earlier post how wind power in SC would be a great source of energy for all of us – especially after reading that other places have already started using it.

I’ll be attending the Common Agenda meeting Upstate tomorrow to learn more.

From the Shem Creek blog.

SC loves cool breezes – without coal’s black soot

While the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) used wasn’t a decision-making document, the analysis conducted was to determine whether a recent wind farm proposal Massachusetts made was environmentally sound or not.
Here are some major points from the study:

1. Cape Wind will reduce regional air pollution emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury, pollutants that harm human health.
2. Cape Wind will reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change by 880,000 tons per year.
3. Building Cape Wind will create hundreds of jobs and generate over a half-billion dollars in non-labor purchases in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
4. Cape Wind will not increase energy prices in New England and could help to lower energy clearing prices.
5. Most of Cape Wind’s electricity will be consumed on Cape Cod and the Islands where it will supply ¾ of that region’s electricity and improve electric transmission performance.
6. Cape Wind will have a substantial positive impact on electrical generating capacity and help Massachusetts achieve its renewable energy requirements under the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.
7. Cape wind will have no major impacts on navigation, fishing, or tourism.

“This report validates the project will create new jobs, increase energy independence and fight global warming while being a good neighbor to the ecosystem of Nantucket Sound.”
– Jim Gordon, project developer

As usual, there are critics to new ideas – this time it’s offshore wind power:

1. the Coast Guard worries of potential radar interference to vessel navigation, and
2. the FAA worries of potential impacts to the flights, including the “potential for physical and/or electromagnetic interference to radar systems”.

So, like all things political, these items may take time – 7.5 years so far – but it looks like Cape Wind will be done with their permitting process by March. Once that’s complete, hopefully Massachusetts will have our nation’s 1st offshore wind farm – wouldn’t it be great if South Carolina was 2nd?

South Carolina + Wind Power = A GOOD THING!

See also: The Potential Economic Impact of an Off-Shore Wind Farm to South Carolina

From the Shem Creek blog.

Is South Carolina ready for offshore wind power?