Tag Archives: UNC

Outer Banks Coastal Studies Institute Takes Another Step Forward

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Outer Banks - UNC Coastal Studies Institute

Outer Banks - UNC Coastal Studies Institute

Last April we wrote a post about the UNC Coastal Studies Institute that is being planned for Roanoke Island. At the time, a conditional use permit was issued to begin building, but as with most projects of this scale, it’s never quite as easy as it seems.

The vision has been over six years in the making, and it is still in the planning phase, but an important step forward was taken at the end of last week.

On Friday afternoon, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce posted the following on their Facebook page:

“This afternoon the NC Attorney General’s office approved the UNC Coastal Studies Institute project contract, thus encumbering the remaining $22 million in state funds to construct the research building and marine support facilities at the Skyco Campus on Roanoke Island. This allows them to move forward to collect and open bids. The bid date is 8 February.”

This project is estimated to cost $30 million and will include a 56,800 square foot building, a 9700 square foot building, two dormitories, a boat storage building, boat slips and parking.

The OBX has a strong “green” presence, and the campus will be no exception; it will include environmentally friendly equipment and methods of operation. Current plans call for a staff of 60 and 120 students that will be living on campus.

An exciting addition to Dare County…assuming the process continues to move along.

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.