Overblown wind power

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Offshore winds promise power

Far beyond the Outer Banks, the ocean waters could soon give rise to a wind energy farm the size of a small town.

For more than a year, a tiny Chapel Hill company has been laying plans for a project that would catapult North Carolina into a national leadership role in offshore wind energy development. Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corp. is eyeing federal waters about 25 miles offshore to chase a dream of harnessing pollution-free electricity generated by some of the nation's best wind resources.

An offshore wind farm has yet to be built in this country, and the hurdles are formidable. North Carolina is considered to have excellent wind resources, but fierce opposition has shot down proposals to build commercial wind projects in the mountains and on the coast.

Utilities chase distant winds

The answer to North Carolina's green energy challenge is blowing in the wind-swept mesas of Texas.

With the first deadlines fast approaching for North Carolina's renewable energy targets, power companies in this state are snapping up green certificates from out-of-state wind farms. The certificates don't buy electricity, but pay for credits needed to meet state targets.

There are eight Texas wind farms registered in North Carolina to market the certificates to Progress Energy, Duke Energy and local power agencies. Just this week, a pair of wind farms in North and South Dakota were registered by the N.C. Utilities Commission.

Advocacy group opposes nuclear

Electricity costs would rise 50 percent if Progress Energy is allowed to add two reactors at the Shearon Harris site in Wake County, according to a report by the N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network.

Legislators postpone vote on wind power ban

State lawmakers held off voting Tuesday on a proposal to ban wind power development in the mountains of western North Carolina. The delay was met with relief by wind power advocates who harbor dreams of erecting windmills in the Appalachian mountains, home to some of the best wind energy resources in the nation.

The chief sponsor of the proposal, Sen. Charles Albertson, said the proposed ban generated opposition from supporters of wind power, a clean form of energy that doesn't generate air pollution or greenhouse gases.

"We heard from a lot of people form the mountains who supported the bill in its original form," said Albertson, a Democrat who represents Duplin, Lenoir and Sampson counties in the southeastern part of the state. He was referring to an earlier form of the proposal that would have permitted windmills in the mountains as long as they didn't obstruct views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail and other tourist areas.

Legislature backs off ban on wind power

State lawmakers held off voting Tuesday on a proposal to ban wind power development in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

The delay was met with relief by wind power advocates who harbor dreams of windmills in the Appalachian Mountains, home to some of the best wind energy resources in the nation.

The chief sponsor of the proposal, Sen. Charles Albertson, said the proposed ban generated opposition from supporters of wind power, a clean form of energy that doesn't generate air pollution or greenhouse gases.