Prospect of offshore wind turbines causing a stir

The prospect of offshore drilling raises concerns about the beauty of our coasts. The idea of wind turbines brings up similar issues.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission will meet tomorrow to discuss offshore wind energy options for our area.

Andy Wood, Education Director of the Audobon Society and supporter of wind energy said, “Generating electricity from wind is sustainable because we aren’t extracting coal from the ground or oil and burning those things, producing carbon dioxide gas and other pollutants and causing havoc on the land by extracting those resources.”

The benefits are fairly convincing for groups like the Audobon Society. But the size and location of the wind turbines has potential of causing some anxiety among others.

Harry Simmons does not like the idea of offshore wind turbines and he works for the NC Beach Inlet and Waterway Association. “They have issues on where they will be placed, and the impact they may have on what may be the golden egg that is our coastal tourism. One of the detractions is that people could see these possibly, it depends if they are located within say 11-15 miles off we might see them, but you would really have to look to see them.”

Experts say the turbine blades could be up to 100 feet long each and once they get going their arc can be up to three hundred feet wide which could possess a concern for area birds.

Wind energy seems to work in places like Palm Springs, which is why groups like the Audobon Society, Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Sustainable Energy Association feel the need to talk about it further.

The meeting to discuss issue of wind energy will take place tomorrow in Sunset Beach at the Seatrial Convention Center.