Wind farm proposed along N.C. coast

[jpak]

http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/480713.html

There may be gold blowing in the wind if a Raleigh couple succeeds in building a wind farm in Carteret County to help meet North Carolina's need for renewable energy.

Nelson and Dianna Paul are seeking permission from the N.C. Utilities Commission to build three windmills in coastal Carteret County that would generate 4.5 megawatts of electricity -- enough to provide power for about 900 homes. By far the state's largest commercial-scale wind farm to date, it would sell power to Progress Energy to help the utility provide more green energy.

The Golden Wind Farm is small as wind projects go, but the Pauls may be the first of a wave of green energy entrepreneurs seeking to fill the need for alternative energy. North Carolina leaders passed a law last year requiring utilities to meet 12.5 percent of energy demand by 2020 with cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar power.

"The project is needed because wind power is a renewable resource," Paul told the State Utilities Commission during a hearing Tuesday. The commission made no immediate decision on the proposal.

<more>

[SteelPenguin]

1. Seems Like a Bad Idea

The article says that they're tested to withstand "hurricane force winds" of 123 mph. Yet that's only a category 3 hurricane. A category 4 or 5 hurricane would be faster than that, and while those are rarer, obviously, how frequently do they hit the Carolina coast? What would be the cost of rebuilding it, or insuring it, relative to power generation?

I just don't know if I'd want to invest in that, or live too near them if those rotors start flying off in hurricane winds.

Maybe I'm offbase, but it just doesn't seem like a reasonable place to put a wind farm.