Georgia stays out of wind power group

Atlantic offshore wind consortium brings East Coast states and the Interior Department together to plan turbines, coordinate permits, advance renewable energy policy, and engage states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida in offshore wind development.

Concerned about future costs and obligations, Georgia officials want more information before they get involved in a plan to generate energy from wind turbines off the East Coast.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced early this month that it had reached an agreement with 10 East Coast governors to work together to develop wind turbines in the Atlantic.

South Carolina and Florida did not formally join the consortium, but the Interior Department said it was working with those states to promote offshore wind development.

Georgia officials said they're hesitant to get involved, despite green energy funding recently announced in the state. The state wants details on the commitment of time, effort and money that would be required, said Bert Brantley, a spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Brantley also said other forms of renewable energy hold more promise for Georgia, even as southern utilities look to nuclear options. "If this was a solar consortium or a biomass consortium, we'd be the first ones to sign up," he said. "But it's not likely that wind is going to be Georgia's core strength in terms of energy."

Jennette Gayer of Environment Georgia accused the state of being shortsighted.

"We have a source of energy off our coast — it's not going to spill, it's not going to ruin our coastline," she said.

Officials at the Interior Department said they would welcome Georgia into the consortium. They said there are no specific financial obligations associated with joining.

Chuck Mueller, senior policy adviser at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said other states such as Maine may be more enthusiastic because they're ahead of Georgia in wind power development.

Valerie Hendrickson, a spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Southern Co., parent of Georgia Power utility, said the company is working on federal permit applications to set up wind research towers off Georgia.

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