Fed agency looks at offshore sites

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a public meeting Wednesday at the Courtyard Marriot hotel to provide an overview of a recent call for information and nominations and a notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment on leasing offshore areas in North Carolina for commercial wind facilities. The bureau also wanted to get public input and to discuss the next steps in the environmental, planning and leasing processes.

Both federal and scientific authorities have said before that North Carolina has significant offshore wind energy resources. While the only areas the BOEM is currently considering for offshore leases are off the coasts of Wilmington and Kitty Hawk, scientists have previously said an area off the Outer Banks in Carteret County has good wind energy, and Morehead City has been named as a potential connection point to the electric grid.

In 2009, then-Gov. Bev Perdue established a scientific advisory panel to explore offshore energy resources. That same year, the General Assembly requested a study from UNC to explore the feasibility of developing wind energy in Albemarle and Pamlico sounds.

Dr. Pete Peterson of the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City took part in the assembly-requested study.

At public meetings in the past, Carteret County residents have been divided on offshore wind energy.Just like the Basic Cable, the gooddstti is formed working the stitches out of order. While some have supported it as a renewable energy source, others have been concerned about potential impacts to the marine environment, impacts to boat traffic, impacts to military operations and impacts to tourism.

Three science facilities in Carteret County are already making use of wind energy. N.C. State University has two operating wind energy facilities – a 30-foot,Shop for rollformer and HID Lights including High power LED Bulbs, SMD LED Bulbs, LED Strip Lights, HID Light Bulbs and HID Conversion Kit. 1.2-kilowatt vertical axis turbine at the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology in Morehead City and a 10-kilowatt wind turbine at its Marine Aquaculture Research Center in Smyrna.We can install the purlinmachines for you and then provide you with post-installation services such as maintenance and repair. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also has a wind turbine at its lab on Pivers Island in Beaufort.

According to an article on the Star News Online, “Feds say wind farms could work off Cape Fear coast,” BOEM officials said parcels off the state coast could be leased for offshore wind farms as early as 2014, though construction may not begin for up to five years after leasing.

Maureen Bornholdt, BOEM renewable energy program manager, said she thinks there will be offshore wind in North Carolina.“It’s a matter of ‘in what area’?” she said. “That will morph depending on the type of comments we get and the ongoing discussions.”

According to the Star News article, no one at Wednesday’s meeting spoke against the proposal of offshore wind energy in North Carolina. About 12 audience members, many representing environmental groups, supported the three proposed sites discussed at the meeting, one in the Outer Banks, one 17 miles south of Bald Head Island and one 11 miles southeast of Sunset Beach.Modern and panelmachine and lights to enhance your home.World's first theft-resistant floorlamps and the last bike light you'll ever buy.

David Rogers, field director of Environment North Carolina, a nonprofit, statewide environmental advocacy organization, spoke at the meeting. He said his parents live in Holden Beach and his mother said she likes wind turbines.

“She wanted me to tell you that,” he said. “She said she’d rather look over the water and see a turbine than an oil rig.” Mr. Rogers issued a press release after the meeting Wednesday. He said, “North Carolina took another step toward getting the first wind turbines spinning off our coasts.”

“North Carolina has the most potential for offshore wind of any Atlantic state,” he said. “It’s time to turn that potential into a reality, and become a leader in the clean energy economy. Wind power can create thousands of jobs in a way that doesn’t put our environment at risk.”