Southern Co., GA Tech find offshore wind potentially favorable

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Southern Company, Georgia Tech Wind Power Study Finds Potentially Favorable Conditions for Offshore Generation Pending Resolution of Economic, Regulatory Issues

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,130383.shtml

ATLANTA, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southern Company said today that a thorough two-year study conducted with the Georgia Institute of Technology has identified several conditions potentially favorable for wind power generation off the coast of Georgia, but that high costs and regulatory issues still need to be resolved.

Launched in 2005, the joint study examined in detail a variety of factors -- including wind resources, technology, siting, environmental, weather conditions, permitting and economics -- associated with sites off Georgia's coast. In conclusion, the study recommended that Southern Company continue to pursue the potential development of wind energy resources in the state's coastal waters.

"We continue to believe that renewable energy resources, including wind, need to be a part of our energy supply portfolio. We will continue to pursue this and other renewable energy options that allow us to provide reliable and affordable electricity to our customers," said Leonard Haynes, Southern Company executive vice president for supply technologies, renewables and demand-side planning.

"We believe that given the available wind resources and the extent of the shallow water continental shelf there is considerable ultimate potential for wind power generation off the coast of Georgia. While the 20-year levelized cost of wind power is higher than current production from existing power plants, off shore wind power may become a viable option for green power generation. We therefore, support the conclusion that development of offshore wind power should be pursued," said Sam Shelton, Strategic Energy Institute research program
director.

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