Turbine cost could go to consumers

Submitted by bniolet on September 29, 2009 - 8:52am.
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Duke Energy is offering to pay for the wind turbines planned as part of the alternative-energy demonstration project in Pamlico Sound, but the state will let the company make the money back by passing along the cost to customers.

The state and the University of North Carolina are working on a contract that would have Duke Energy build up to 3 windmills, at a cost of about $12 million each, while allowing the university to study the operation, Lynn Bonner reports.

The budget bill sets out $300,000 in federal stimulus money for the study, and says the contract must be finished by Oct. 1.

The budget bill says the state Utilities Commission must establish an annual rider for the company to recover its costs when the company applies for it.

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Re: Turbine cost could go to consumers

Submitted by cityofoaksboy on September 30, 2009 - 6:59am.

As I commented on the recent article on windmills in Pamlico Sound, the renewable energy answer is woody biomass, not wind.

If you're interested, here's a link to an article showing how New Hampshire is doing it: http://www.winnisquamecho.net/Articles-c-2009-09-24-149573.113119_Schools_wood_chip_heating_system_a_money_saver.html

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Re: Turbine cost could go to consumers

Submitted by starcoconst on September 29, 2009 - 10:03am.

It was too good to be true. I thought Duke Power would fit the bill out of research and development money. Now it seems they are only laying out the money in advance and will collect later. $300,000 in stimulous money doesn't sound like much to me so I am sure Legislature will ante up what ever UNC needs for the rest. Natural gas exploration will pay royalties to the taxpayers. We will still need oil and natural gas even if by some wild chance the wind farms are productive. I know the studies will twist the truth around and state how cost effective they are since UNC will want more money to do more studies and on and on and on. The Watergate investigation was right, follow the money.
BTW. Perdue and all balanced the budget this year with stimulous money, what are we going to do in 2 years with a new budget and Obama on the ropes?

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