Tag Archives: Wind

Basnight: Wind Farm

Posted on September 26, 2009 by | Comments Off

BUXTON, N.C. — The leader of the state Senate said Friday that he won’t fight wind farms proposed offshore from an area he represents, although he’s aware that residents are concerned about the possible effects on tourism.

“Change does not come easy to me or to the people of this island,” Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, told a public meeting on Hatteras Island.

WRAL-TV reported on its Web site that Basnight said he wouldn’t want turbines to disturb the coastal views and potentially affect tourism, but said alternative energy sources must be considered to thwart global warming.

His remarks echoed those of U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a conference call earlier this month.

“One also has to take a little bit longer view of what’s going to be happening. If you look at how much land there is in North Carolina below, let’s say, one and a half meters – which includes a lot of your tourist areas – those will be under water or have a probability of being under water,” Chu said. “The change in weather patterns and all these other things are real issues.”

He acknowledged that not everyone is a fan of windmills. “I think you can do a lot to mitigate those impacts,” he said.

The public meeting in Buxton was packed, with islanders making up about half the crowd.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said that if all the usable waters are fully developed, offshore wind farms could supply 130 percent of all the power used by North Carolina in 2007. The industry could also create as many as 9,000 local jobs by 2030.

“This is among the best wind resources on the East Coast,” said Dr. Harvey Seim, a marine-sciences professor at UNC.

Seim said that the first demonstration site could be in the Pamlico Sound, about 10 miles west of Avon and northwest of Buxton.

Wind generates about 1 percent of the country’s electricity but is the fastest-growing type of renewable power.

Associated Press
wral.com
25 September 2009

Comments Off

Tagged ,

Virginia Pilot: Wind Farm Plan

Posted on September 26, 2009 by | Comments Off

A big thank you to Catherine Kozak, Virginia Pilot reporter, who wrote the following article. Catherine does a great job in representing the various interests and stories on the Outer Banks.
By Catherine Kozak
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 26, 2009

BUXTON, N.C.

Gov. Beverly Perdue, state Sen. Marc Basnight and state Rep. Tim Spear on Friday gave local residents their first opportunity to learn more about a proposal that would put up to three wind turbines in Pamlico Sound.

In a presentation to more than 250 people at Cape Hatteras Secondary School, the state leaders said the pilot project would give North Carolina the opportunity to lead the nation in wind energy production.

“The reality is we are polluting the Earth and we need not to do such,” said Basnight, a Manteo Democrat.

The University of North Carolina is expected to sign a contract with Duke Energy Carolinas by Thursday to install one to three turbines seven to 10 miles from shore in the sound between Avon and Buxton.

Carolyn Elfland, the project manager, said no state money is involved in the pilot.

Duke is footing the bill, she said, because it views the project as research and development.

There is no set time frame for completion – which will involve permitting, designing and installing the turbines – but Elfland said the public will be kept in the loop.

Perdue said she is “bound and determined” to safely and aggressively pursue green power and make North Carolina “the home of innovation around the world.”

Harvey Seim, a UNC-Chapel Hill marine sciences professor who worked on a wind energy feasibility study, said in the presentation that turbines would be able to be seen in the distance from the beach.

“They’re likely still visible on a clear day,” he said, “but they’re certainly not hovering over your house.”

Seim said the pilot project might lead to more wind energy production offshore in the ocean – which has the best wind class – or in the sound.

After the contract is signed, Seim said, a state task force will be created to work with Minerals Management Service, which oversees offshore lease units.

It is unclear what effect wind production could have on the potential production of oil or gas leases, he said.

The feasibility study, published last month, determined the Buxton site i s one of the best for utility-scale wind energy production in state waters. The project was one recommendation made in the report.

In comments after the presentation, some residents voiced suspicion of the government’s motives, and others talked skeptically about global warming and the need for alternative energy.

Virginia Luizer of Frisco said it’s a waste of money to invest in the project without the prior approval of certain permitting agencies, as well as having the backing of the community.

“Until you get a commitment from these people, you’re putting the cart before the horse,” she said.

But most of those who spoke were open to the proposal.

William Howard of Ocracoke said that in light of the potential impact of climate change on the barrier islands, a long-term solution that would be cheaper and more sustainable than offshore oil is needed.

“As a fundamental way of being, we must change,” he said. “My family has been here for 300 years, and I’m looking at not even being able to be here anymore.”

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com

Comments Off

Tagged , , , , , ,

Wind Turbine Study

Posted on August 25, 2009 by | Comments Off

At the request of the North Carolina General Assembly the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a 9-month study to assess the feasibility of installing wind turbines in the sounds and off the coast of North Carolina. The request specified that the assessment include an analysis of the spatial distributions of available wind power, ecological risks and synergies, use conflicts affecting site selection, foundation systems and their compatibility with sound and ocean bottom geology and associated geologic dynamics, electric transmission infrastructure, utility statutory and regulatory barriers, the legal context, carbon reduction potential, and economics. Discrete work components were addressed by a project team that drew upon expertise within the University as well as consultants.

SUMMARY

This study finds there is potential for utility-scale production of wind energy off the coast of North Carolina and possibly within eastern Pamlico Sound. A synthesis of the geological, ecological and use conflict components indicates that wind energy development in North Carolina and offshore waters is subject to a variety of spatially-varying constraints. Areas unfavorable for wind energy development are identified and are found to exclude most State waters with the exception of eastern Pamlico Sound. This study confirms that, because of a promising wind resource, large areas offshore of the North Carolina coastline are potentially well-suited for wind energy development and worthy of further investigation. A high-level review of utility transmission infrastructure in eastern North Carolina suggests some capacity to accommodate offshore generation but upgrades may be required; further study is needed. Existing State law presents significant legal and permitting barriers to development in State waters and should be revised and new federal regulatory processes deserve careful attention. Few regulatory incentives exist for wind energy; several options to improve incentives are discussed. A high-level economic screening suggests the levelized cost of generation for either inshore or offshore development is in the $101-106 per MWh range. Significant carbon emission reduction is anticipated as a result of a utility-scale generation facility assuming an offset of fossil fuel power. North Carolina is well positioned to develop utility scale wind energy production and it is the opinion of the project team that the State should pursue it aggressively.
Click on map below to see detailed Study

UNC Wind study

UNC Wind study

Comments Off

Tagged ,

Wind Power: Not on my mountain

Posted on July 27, 2009 by | Comments Off

N.C. General Assembly, a desire to promote renewable energy has bumped up against a legislative effort to protect the natural beauty of the mountains. Some legislators from mountain counties worry that the beauty of the mountains could be ruined by the construction of commercial wind farms along mountain ridges. State senators are now considering a bill that — as it’s currently written — would effectively ban any large-scale generation of wind power in the mountains.

The bill appeared to be headed for passage in the Senate last week because it had the support of several key Democrats from the mountains. Allowing large wind turbines would “destroy our crown jewel,” said Sen. Martin Nesbitt, D-Buncombe.

Not necessarily. Douglas Uzelac, the general manager of the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center at Appalachian State University, wasn’t quite sure he wanted North Carolina’s largest wind turbine going up in the inn’s back yard.

“My main concern is what would it do for the guest’s experience at the Broyhill,” he said. He especially worried that the noise would be disturbing.

The 34-foot blades have been turning on the 121-foot tower less than a month now, and Uzelac said he’s had no complaints. Instead, guests have asked so many questions about the wind turbine that he printed information sheets to hand out to the curious.

He plans to install a display in the lobby that will show how much electricity the turbine is generating, and he sees the wind turbine as an asset in demonstrating how people can be better stewards of the environment.

“What better cool thing than to have a wind turbine in your backyard when you’re talking about going green,” he said.

Read More about this story in the Journal

Comments Off

Tagged , , ,

Coastal Wind Power

Posted on July 21, 2009 by | Comments Off

The Interior Department announced new rules in April that cleared the way for the first offshore wind turbines to be erected along the Atlantic Coast. The rules aside set long-awaited guidelines for offshore leases, easements and royalty payments that the Bush administration worked on for years but did not complete.The guidelines represent the most aggressive move yet from an administration that hopes to shift the nation’s offshore energy supply from oil to wind power. Offshore wind power is currently used to generate electricity in Europe, where land for traditional onshore turbines is scarce. There are no offshore wind farms in the United States.

//

Coastal Winds

Coastal Winds

Read More

Comments Off

Posted in 8. Energy Efficiency And Energy Alternatives

Tagged ,