For Aesthetics, 8 Miles About Right for Offshore Wind

One of the big gripes with coastal wind power is the effect that giant turbines would have on the view. Put the turbines two miles out, and they are clearly visible. But put them about eight miles out and they start to disappear into the haze, according to a photo simulation from Clemson’s South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies.

The sightline projection is one of two feasibility studies for Carolina wind projects getting underway, reports the Herald. In addition to the photo simulation, Santee Cooper and Coastal Carolina University are building a tower to conduct wind measurements off the coast of South Carolina. The $1 million project should begin construction next year.

Further complicating matters is that there is a tradeoff when it comes to placement of coastal wind power projects. Wind farms are less expensive to build and maintain closer to shore, but they benefit from stronger winds further away from shore.

As Carolina power factions consider their future in wind, a group in Texas is pushing for a massive wind energy project off the coast of South Padre Island.

Pavillion Energy Resources submitted a multi-billion dollar proposal to state regulators, in the hope of building five wind farms that would generate a total of 50 gigawatts per hour, according to a press release.

Pavillion projects that the wind farms would produce up to $5 billion a year worth of electricity.

Depending on placement of the wind turbines, Pavillion may encounter some resistance, considering the island’s popularity with tourists.