SC bill would encourage investment in wind energy

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - A North Myrtle Beach lawmaker has pre-filed a bill in the General Assembly to encourage utilities to invest in offshore wind energy.

Area media outlets report the bill would not require utilities to make such investments. But state Sen. Greg Hembree says it would give utilities the option to do by requiring the Public Service Commission to draft rules allowing offshore wind farms.

He sees the measure as another step toward market-based energy independence.

A similar bill was blocked from coming to a floor vote last session because of concerns it required government financial support of offshore wind projects. Hembree says that is not the case.

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