North Myrtle Beach, SC – Recently, the City of North Myrtle Beach, by resolutation, declared the community a “wind powered economic zone.” The Southern Alliance for Clean energy declared this action one that ‘represents true leadership in the realm of clean energy and a genuine effort to better the community through economic development, community pride, and environmental protection.’

Behind the proclamation by the City declaring support for an off-shore turbine wind farm was years of work by the North Strand Coastal Wind Team, the group behind the project.

The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce along with the City of North Myrtle Beach established a North Strand Coastal Wind Energy Initiative in 2008, a collaborative effort to establish a community-based wind energy program in the City. This collaborative effort is a loose federation of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber, the City of North Myrtle Beach, Coastal Carolina University, The Savannah River National Laboratory, the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Authority and the SC Energy Office. These groups form the North Strand Coastal Wind Team (NSCWT).

Among the first steps was to install an on-shore wind turbine at the 6th Avenue South Ocean Front Park. Santee Cooper installed the wind turbine in December 2010 as part of the city's green power program. Santee Cooper said the 2.4 kilowatt turbine starts to create electricity when wind speeds reach 8 miles per hour. It reaches its maximum energy output at 29 mph. The energy company says the turbine can generate enough electricity to power a medium-sized refrigerator. The city now has two additional wind turbines in operation.

The resolution also declared the formation of a stock company to invest in a transmission cable that will help bring the power onshore from an offshore wind farm. Investments in the stock company will fund the installation of the transmission line. The installation of the transmission cable is planned to take place during the City’s next storm water drainage project.

(taken from North Myrtle Beach Online website)