New report says sector could support 847 jobs a year to 2035

South Carolina could capitalise on the offshore wind industry to drive economic growth and support an average of 847 jobs a year to 2035, according to a new report.

The report – South Carolina Jobs Project: A Guide to Creating Jobs in Offshore Wind report – said that the US state has the sixth-highest net technical offshore wind resource potential in the US.

South Carolina is also home to offshore wind research, including Clemson University’s drivetrain testing facility, which has attracted GE and MHI Vestas, and Coastal Carolina University’s ocean, atmosphere and wave modelling and assessment expertise, it said.

Palmetto State is home to many companies that could expand in-state operations to support the offshore wind value chain, including 15 wind energy factories, plus global industry leaders like Siemens and Timken, and cable manufacturers Nexans and Prysmian Group, the report added.

The report was produced by the American Jobs Project in partnership with the Burroughs and Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies (BCCMWS) at Coastal Carolina University and BVG Associates.

BCCMWS executive director Paul Gayes said: “Right now, there is $56bn committed to Atlantic Coast offshore wind projects. AJP’s report shows that we can leverage South Carolina’s industry strengths to provide support for these projects and nurture local projects that would grow the economy while meeting our energy needs.”

The report also provides recommendations to take advantage of the opportunities from offshore wind.

They include: expanding the Angel Tax Credit and the SC Launch program to bolster access to capital for South Carolina’s early-stage startups; and leveraging integrated basic education and skills programs at technical colleges to address skills gap and boost manufacturing employment.

The state's ports should also be assessed for readiness to perform a role in the sector.