Newsroom
News
Sign Up
Yes! I would like to receive IEI's monthly online newsletter. I have submitted my email address below:
Online Conversations - Emerging Issues Debate
Wind Power in North Carolina?
In response to Diane Cherry's comments last month on harnessing wind power in North Carolina, Paul Quinlan of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association provides insight into the economic benefits of generating more wind power in the state as well as some of the regulatory barriers that need to be addressed for this to become a reality.
Wind Energy in North Carolina In a recent report, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) concluded wind energy could provide 20% of U.S. electricity by the year 2030. One big surprise: North Carolina plays a major role in meeting this ambitious goal. The government model estimates that 12 gigawatts of wind energy capacity are feasible in North Carolina by 2030. The bulk of this capacity – 10 gigawatts – is attributed to offshore projects. This would place North Carolina among wind energy state titans like Texas, California, and Iowa (see figure). Achieving this goal would result in significant economic benefits for North Carolina. Under this scenario, wind energy would generate 20% of our state’s electricity. More importantly, it would reduce the costs associated with importing convention fuel while generating local jobs and tax revenues. |
Stay tuned for the ensuing issues of IEI’s newsletter as we take on this important public policy issue and dissect its different sides. As always, if you want to join in and have your say please contact us. The discussion will continue for many weeks, and we absolutely need to hear from leaders and opinion makers from across the state.