While the initial set-up costs for installing offshore wind farms will make many hesitant to embrace the alternative energy source, a Clemson University wind-energy expert told a conference in Charleston that while wind farms have big price tags, the come with local benefits.Outside of Chicago, roughly 115 miles away, in Stephenson County, a 67-turbine wind farm that was $175 million in equipment and cost, in total, about $230 million recently. However, Nick Rigas, director of the Renewable Energy focus area of the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston, and vice president of EcoEnergy, a wind farm development company, argues the big costs come with begin economic development potential for local communities. For instance, in the project in Stephenson County, other than the towers and blades, the 260,000 parts and components of the turbine were “all supplied by small and medium sized companies.” “The 50,000 megawatts of required wind power in the United States projected by the U.S. Department of Energy would generate $1 trillion in cumulative economic activity and more than 250,000 jobs during the next 20 years.”
For states like South Carolina, this could equal 20,000 new manufacturing jobs over the next 20 years. Of course, while in-land wind farms have become pretty well accepted, getting offshore wind farms going is still difficult. Given that wind has emerged as the “fastest growing renewable-energy market in the world. Global installation of wind farms has increased at an annual rate of 27 percent during the last seven years and now accounts for about one-third of new electricity-generating capacity.”
Still, despite the potential for offshore wind power, the environmental and landscape controversies over this use of the technology are sure to continue.
To read Clemson University story on this technology click here.
Posted: 09/28/09
