One of the current onshore wind turbines in N. Myrtle Beach

Offshore wind energy taking the next steps in South Carolina

The next step in North Myrtle Beach’s years-long drive to become the offshore wind energy capital of South Carolina will begin next month, when Coastal Carolina University, the University of South Carolina and others begin the work to label areas in the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina as good and not-so-good for the development of wind energy farms.

Paul Gayes, director of the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies at Coastal Carolina University, said Wednesday the study will use $750,000 from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management with a match from the state to narrow down a broad swath of ocean to areas that can then be studied further by private companies that might build the farms.