The North Carolina legislature recently passed a number of bills providing incentives for renewable energy production and development, including a five year extension of renewable energy state tax credits awaiting Governor Easley's signature. However, the North Carolina Senate also passed a bill, now on its way to the North Carolina House, which would restrict the height of wind turbines located along the state's western ridgeline to 100 feet. According to Brandon R. Blevins, wind program coordinator for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, this legislative measure, if passed by the House and signed into law, would ban two thirds of the on shore wind resources in the state.
House action on the ridgeline turbine restriction measure is not expected until the legislature reconvenes in the spring of 2010. Hopefully by then North Carolina environmentalists will have determined whether or not clean energy resources are more important than scenic views.
House action on the ridgeline turbine restriction measure is not expected until the legislature reconvenes in the spring of 2010. Hopefully by then North Carolina environmentalists will have determined whether or not clean energy resources are more important than scenic views.
