McCrory supports wind farms in NC

Gov. Pat McCrory has brought North Carolina one step closer to seeing wind energy turbines along its coastline.

In a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement last week, McCrory said he supports commercial wind farms off the North Carolina coast.

North Carolina has the best offshore shallow-water wind resource potential of any state on the East Coast, according to the National Energy Resources Laboratory.

“Development of commercial wind farms off the North Carolina coast could stimulate factory development in the state to provide the necessary equipment and bring jobs in that sector,” McCrory said in the letter.

Offshore energy resources could bring about $22 billion in new economic activity to the state, including a potential 10,000 jobs, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The N.C. Sierra Club praised McCrory’s announcement of support for offshore wind farm development.

“It is really fantastic to see the governor be so open to meeting our energy needs,” said Dustin Chicurel-Bayard, director of communications for the N.C. Sierra Club.

“This means jobs for North Carolina and investment for communities, most of which thrive on tourism, and adding a mix would be very helpful to our state,” he said.

Harvey Seim, chairman of the marine sciences department at UNC, also said he supported the pursuit of wind energy for environmental reasons.

“I think that the great advantage is there is no carbon footprint,” he said.

“It doesn’t consume any water to generate power unlike coal or a nuclear plant.”

Seim said development of wind energy is feasible, but could take a few years.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which is currently evaluating commercial interest in potential wind farms, has identified three areas which could serve as locations for wind farms.

One area is six miles offshore of Kitty Hawk, and the other two are seven and 13 miles off the coast of southern Wilmington, respectively.

These areas were chosen because they present the most potential for wind energy, while also minimizing possible conflicts with fishing, shipping lanes, military exercises and wildlife, according to a press release by the bureau.

Tracey Moriarty, spokeswoman for the bureau, said the next step will be to gauge commercial interest in these areas.

Companies can express interest through a comment period until March 4. Once the comment period ends, the bureau will check to see if multiple companies are interested in the same areas.

An incentive for potential companies is available tax credits from the federal government.

Chicurel-Bayard said subsidies could boost the development of wind energy.

In the meantime, the bureau will continue to hear from stakeholders, such as the North Carolina Renewable Energy Task Force, environmental groups and state residents to minimize potential conflicts.

“We are still in the early stages and still trying to understand what the stakeholder concerns are right now,” Moriarty said. “My understanding is that for the most part, the comments were very supportive.”

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.