Factors Affecting Wind Power Development in North Carolina Dr. Dennis Grady Director, Appalachian State University Energy Center

North Carolina Wind Resources 2,400 MW Utility Wind Capacity Developable Land from Class 3 and 4 wind sites ( mph at 50 meters )

Mountain and Coastal Region Opportunities WNC Wind Capacity 970 MW on 93 miles of ridge from 485, 2 MW turbines (Conservative estimate based on developing 5% of the developable ridge over 3,000 ft. with strictest exclusionary zones, and transmission access considerations) ENC Wind Capacity 1,430 MW wind capacity on-shore and in sound waters from 2 and 3MW turbines over 26.5 square miles. (off-shore not considered) Transmission bottlenecks heading west may be the largest restriction of capacity.

Wind Power can reasonably meet 6.5% North Carolina’s energy needs in 2015

Mountain Ridge Protection Act of 1983 “No building, structure or unit shall protrude at its uppermost point above the crest of the ridge by more than 35’ “ Exemptions to Ridge Law Water, radio, telephone or television towers or any equipment for the transmission of electricity or communications or both. Structures of a relatively slender nature and minor vertical projections of a parent building, including chimneys, flagpoles, flues, spires, steeples, belfries, cupolas, antennas, poles, wires, or windmills “The Legislature in 1983 had in mind, the traditional, solitary farm windmill which has long been in use in rural communities, not windfarm turbines of the size, type, or certainly number proposed here…” NC Attorney General’s 2/4/2002 letter to TVA

Coastal & Offshore Issues Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) –CAMA major permit required, reviewed by 10 state and four federal agencies Coastal Resources Commission –Coastal Resources Commission indicates that permit will be denied for projects impacting ocean front area (including interconnection transmission lines) –Must apply for variance for specific case NC Archives & History Act –Protects historical sites, even underwater Submerged Land Leases –Leases in excess of 3 years require special approval by Council of State and Governor –Available only after all other permits are approved Birds and Planes

Western NC Wind Turbine Placement Issues Placement % Prohibited % Not Prohibited % Don’t Know Ridgetops Ridgetops Clustered Ridgetops with other towers

Eastern NC Wind Turbine Placement Issues Placement % Prohibited % Not Prohibited % Don’t Know Mainland Mainland Clustered Sounds Sounds Clustered Offshore Offshore Clustered

Turbine Placement Issues, cont. PlacementWNCENCWNCENCWNCENC National Forests Visible from Home With Other Towers A Residential Turbine % Prohibited % Not Prohibited % Don’t Know

Land Value Impact Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP), examined 10, large (10+ MW) wind projects across the US, developed since 1998 looking at pre and post development land values. The REPP investigation could find no negative impact. Study conducted for Kittitas County, Washington determined that no negative land value impact was found within the viewshed of the 13 projects examined. Energy Center of Wisconsin conducted a detailed parcel by parcel analysis of land transactions within the viewsheds of the REPP sites and concluded that the impact was not systematically negative or positive. ASU Energy Center looked at 15 projects east of the Mississippi River (eight in the Appalachian Region) that were at least 5MW in size. There was no statistical difference between the wind project counties and control counties on pre and post land values.

JEDI: Jobs and Economic Development Impact Developing wind power to meet 6.5% of NC’s year 2015 energy needs: Jobs: 5,533 direct/indirect jobs 5,533 direct/indirect jobs during construction years 1,169 annual operational jobs Local Spending : $280 million in local spending over $280 million in local spending from construction $30 million in indirect local income over $30 million in indirect local income per year NREL model using county-level economic inputs to measure direct and indirect economic impacts.