Offshore wind is blowing up in momentum in North Carolina.
But the push is raising some concerns in Brunswick County, where government officials recently held a open house for the community.
An open house brought together government officials and experts interested in responsible offshore wind development in North Carolina. The event gave residents a chance to discuss what that development could look like and the potential impact to wildlife and the economy.
Offshore wind is a hot-button topic in Brunswick County with steps toward development accelerating 20 miles off the coast.
"I think we heard a lot of questions from folks who are just concerned because they haven’t heard a lot of information about the project," said Jessica Mundt with the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
A state offshore wind taskforce established by Gov. Roy Cooper hosted the event, gathering various perspectives across the industry.
One of the biggest areas of interest is how offshore wind could impact the ocean view.
A photograph was on display simulating the view of the project from Bald Head Island, commissioned by Southeastern Wind Coalition last year.
'The main takeaway is that they're very difficult to see," said Katharine Kollins with the Southeastern Wind Coalition. "You have to squint, if you had binoculars, Yes, you could certainly see them."
Atmospheric conditions, height of the viewer, and height of the turbines, which can be above 800 feet tall, all play a role in visibility.
Developers will be required to submit visual simulations, such as this rendering from a project in Long Island, New York, before consideration of approval from federal regulators.
"They’ll have to simulate the project, what it would look like from various key points on shore," said lead environmental protection specialist Brian Krevor. "And we can analyze that and determine what those impacts would be."
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management also conducts multi-year environmental studies and consultations before construction can begin.
"We really want to make sure that the turbines are sited in a place that's not colliding with migration patterns," said Kerri Allen with the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
Residents voiced concerns about impact on right whales, sea turtles, and other marine life.
"From my perspective, it's not a clear yes or no, good or bad, it's, you might get some changes," said Martin Posey, marine biology professor at UNC Wilmington.
North Carolina still very early in this process and experts said if the state moves forward it will be years, possibly a decade, before working turbines are spinning off the North Carolina coast.
The next step in the federal regulation process is developers submitting a plan to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for review before the environmental impact studies can begin.
