Up to three wind turbines will be placed in the Pamlico Sound in a new collaborative pilot project between Duke Energy and UNC.

UNC will conduct ongoing research to follow up on their costal wind study.  Duke Energy will assess the potential future of large scale wind energy in North Carolina.  Tim Pettit, spokesperson for Duke Energy, says this will be the first attempt to place wind turbines over water in the United States.

In September, Governer Beverly Perdue, NC Senator Marc Basnight, and as well as representatives from both UNC and Duke Energy met on the Outer Banks to get community feedback about the pilot project.  Community feedback will be accepted throughout the project.

To generate power from winds, a wind turbine uses specially-shaped blades that connect to a drive shaft that then turns an electric generator to produce electricity.  UNC’s nine-month study, presented to the NC General Assembly found North Carolina well positioned to develop utility-scale wind energy production.

Pettit says this project is a great step in analyzing renewable energy options in North Carolina.

Duke Energy will pay for the turbines and their installation.