Duke Energy, UNC reach wind deal

[ccharles000]

Duke Energy and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have a contract under which the utility would build a mini-wind farm and the university would study it.

A recent UNC study suggested a test wind energy farm in Pamlico Sound, Lynn Bonner reports.

The contract allows several ways for the company to get out of building the windmills, including if the project's cost exceeds $35 million. The university and the company can mutually agree to end the contract if opposition to the project is too intense.

The university will be able to study topics such as hurricane resistance and turbine-animal interactions.

A provision in the state budget allows the company to recoup its windmill costs by charging customers.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/duke_energy_unc_reach_wind_deal

[Canuckistanian]

1. "turbine-animal interactions"?

:wtf:

Hey, brainiacs, look at Europe, where animals and wind turbines have been co-existing for nearly 20 years.

[bertman]

2. Very interesting. Isn't there already significant data about hurricane resistance? There

must be some thought that there will be public outcry about having giant wind turbines sticking up in Pamlico Sound; although, it's hard to imagine why. The place is HUGE.

I guess the Guaranteed Profit guys had to figure out a way to get the government to pay for this so they used $35 million as the trigger. Seems like $35 mill would get gobbled up pretty quickly in a project like this.

Nonetheless, it's a big step in the right direction to be considering wind power as a viable option.

Thanks for posting this, ccharles.

[ccharles000]

3. kick

[bbinacan]

4. As an alumnus of UNC

I'm a lttle surprised that Duke wouldn't partner with an engineering school like NC State.