SCEO Partner Programs

Renewable Energy

A Consumer Guide to Solar for the SC Homeowner banner

South Carolina law “encourage(s) the development and use of indigenous, renewable energy resources.” Renewable energy, which includes biomass, wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, and hydrogen derived from renewable sources can mitigate South Carolina’s dependence on imported energy and help meet state air quality goals.

The Energy Office has focused its efforts on developing biomass, solar, and wind energy sectors, although the office is supportive of all economic development related to renewable energy. For additional information, please click on the sources below.

Wind

Wind turbines have been used for hundreds of years to pump water from wells, but they have only been used to produce electricity for about three decades.

Wind turbines require a sustained wind speed of 12.5 MPH to generate electricity cost effectively. Experts agree that with some geographically isolated exceptions, such as the northwest corner of the state, wind power will only be a significant energy resource off the coast of South Carolina. Marked advancements in recent years in wind turbine technology and wind mapping technology have greatly increased our ability to better locate and utilize this valuable renewable resource. The SCEO partnered with Santee Cooper to produce a comprehensive set of wind studies in the state. More recent studies (see links below) support the earlier findings.

The South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) has been instrumental in bringing together key stakeholders to plan for wind energy in South Carolina. The SCEO has organized, staffed, or chaired several committees focused on exploring or furthering the development of wind power in the state. These include:

The SC Wind Farm Feasibility Study Committee

Regulatory Task Force for Coastal Clean Energy

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Offshore Renewable Energy Task Force

Local Government Resources

Maine State Planning Office Model Wind Energy Facility Ordinance (PDF)

Model Ordinance for Wind Energy Facilities in Pennsylvania (PDF)

DWEA Model Zoning Ordinance: Permitted Use Regulation for Small Wind Turbines (PDF)