Tag Archives: Duke Energy

Outer Banks Wind Farm Hits a Snag

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Wind Turbine

Duke Energy has been working towards a wind farm along the Outer Banks.  The initial plan called for a pilot program in conjunction with UNC Chapel Hill to build three wind turbines in the Sound, but Duke Energy has decided it will not build the three wind turbines in Pamlico Sound as a pilot project..

The costs of the small pilot project were too steep. Duke had estimated the costs at $35 million. But it now believes the costs would be closer to $116 million to build three turbines.

Duke Energy feels the economies of scale still argue that building a large number of offshore turbines would be economically feasible for developers. The problem with the small project is that the utility cannot sufficiently defray the design, permitting and other fixed costs with only three turbines.

Duke Energy does not consider this a failure.

The project has already proved that the best place for building such turbines would be on the ocean side of the Outer Banks.  Duke Energy feels that Pamilco Sound is too shallow for the barges that would be required for construction of the offshore turbines. And the greater wind resources in North Carolina are clearly on the ocean side of the Outer Banks.

This may seem like a step back, but Duke Energy is still committed to the wind farm and has increased its investment in UNC Chapel Hill’s study of offshore wind power for North Carolina to $4 million, a $400,000 increase.

Outer Banks “Wind Farm” Continues to Make Progress

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Wind Turbine

Wind Turbine

The Outer Banks wind energy  project continues to make progress.   It was recently announced that Army Corps of Engineers has asked Duke Energy to perform an environmental impact assessment.   To begin the assessment process, Duke Energy will be holding a public meeting this month to discuss the project.

The meeting will be held in the town of Manteo, and the new environmental impact study will be the main topic of discussion.  A Duke Energy spokesperson mentioned that the project is contingent on permits and that there is no specific start date for the project.  The meeting will serve as a means of letting locals voice their opinions and express their concerns.

In addition, Duke Energy is currently working in conjunction with UNC Chapel Hill to conduct a demonstration project.  The purpose of the demonstration project is to determine the feasibility of offshore wind turbines off the North Carolina coast.  The demonstration project is capped by North Carolina statute at three offshore turbines.  A UNC representative points out that a small demonstration project like this has the potential to move forward more quickly than larger projects and could be the first offshore wind project built in the United States.

Outer Banks Wind Farm Update

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Wind Turbine

Wind Turbine

As a follow up to a  previous post about the potential for a “wind farm” on the Outer Banks, here is an update on the Offshore Wind Project:

The US Army Corps of Engineers has asked Duke Energy Co to undergo environmental impact reasearch on an offshore wind project that will take place in the Pamlico Sound.  The project plans for three wind turbines within 3 square miles and 7.3 miles west of Avon and 9.1 miles of Frisco.  The Turbines will be connected to the island from an underground electrical cable. This project was announced last September. 

The project is being conducted as a test by Duke Energy and UNC Chapel Hill of commercial wind energy along the OBX coast.  One of the most common concerns at this point for tourists and residents is the site of the large wind turbines. 

As a results of this impact study, 9000 permant jobs could be created.  The Corps announced on Tuesday that undertaking this study could take about two years. A public meeting to discuss the scope of the study will be held in Manteo on March 18.  Written comments will be taken until April 2. Write: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, Regulatory Division, Attn: File Number SAW 2009-01880, P.O. Box 1000, Washington, NC 27889-1000.