Wind power not taking off in N.C.

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on July 24, 2008 - 7:33am.
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Wind power is not blowing hard in North Carolina.

Though nine offshore wind projects are proposed along the coasts of Atlantic states, none are currently planned here, despite a law passed a year ago requiring utilities to meet 12.5 percent of energy demand by 2021 with clean energy.

Bob Leker, renewables program manager for the State Energy Office, says North Carolina has a significant untapped source of wind power.

"The U.S. Department of Energy is very interested in North Carolina," he said in remarks Wednesday to the N.C. Coastal Resources Advisory Council. "We have a significant resource by virtue of the miles of coastline and relatively shallow sound."

One small, land-based commercial wind project is proposed in Carteret County. Raleigh entrepeneurs Nelson and Dianna Paul have proposed three wind turbines that would generate 4.5 megawatts of eletricity, enough to power about 900 homes. (N&O) 

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