Where to Harness the Wind

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – A new study on harnessing offshore winds finds the waters off Dare County are ideal for wind turbines. The study's being presented Thursday to the Coastal Resource Commission.

The study gauged the strongest winds off the coast of Dare County. And about eight miles out, in federal waters, the sediment is strong enough to anchor wind turbines. It's a location that would also not interfere with commercial fishing. But UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Pete Peterson, says there's a hitch.

"The connectivity to existing utility infrastructure of the power that would be generated is not as readily done there as it is off of the central coast off Bogue Banks, and there connectivity can be achieved into the grid system in Morehead City."

Peterson says if the wind turbines go up close to the Virginia border, it presents an opportunity for the two states to share in the cost of generating wind power.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.