Wind farm Coverage

Military concerns set back offshore wind plans

North Carolina's aggressive timeline for offshore wind generation may be hard to achieve after recent objections from federal agencies.

Navy concerns eliminate 700-square-mile zone from offshore wind development

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management decided last week to exclude North Carolina from final plans for wind energy areas in the central Atlantic Ocean and took one potential lease area out of consideration, in part, due to military concerns.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL climate change reporter

Brunswick County property owners want to know how wind power would impact their ocean view

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.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL Climate Change reporter

Governor Cooper pushes for offshore wind energy at Duke conference

Momentum for offshore wind development is picking up in our state with an international agreement this week between North Carolina and Denmark.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL climate change reporter

NC leaders hold conference to discuss future of wind energy

Momentum for offshore wind development is picking up in our state with an international agreement this week between North Carolina and Denmark.

WARD LENZ: The day the irony died

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 -- The largest companies in North Carolina are asking for more clean energy solutions. Why not support them in their endeavor to reduce their emissions footprint? This is a great opportunity to bring those jobs and investments we're seeing in states like Iowa right here.

Potiential offshore wind hub coming to NC

Radio Island has more than 200 acres of overgrown land. It's one of the few underdeveloped sites on the Morehead Coastline. Some tourists feel another major development in the area could push travelers to look elsewhere.

Visitors concerned possible offshore wind construction will drive tourists away from Morehead City

Radio Island is a mostly untouched stretch of beach near the heart of Morehead City. But much of the area could be paved over as the state looks to the future of wind energy.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Federal government considers ramping up offshore wind farms off North Carolina coast

The federal government is considering new areas for offshore wind farms in the Atlantic Ocean, including several stretches off the North Carolina coast.

Federal government considering adding new offshore wind farms off North Carolina coast

Some Outer Banks communities have concerns about ramping up wind energy off their beaches.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: More than just hot air

Thursday, June 10, 2021 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Editorial: Biden's offshore wind plan a boost for NC

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 -- It is a White House initiative that could be custom-made for North Carolina. President Joseph Biden announced a plan to generate 30-gigawatts of east coast offshore wind power by the end of the decade. He will speed up permitting, provide low-interest loans, fund improvements to ports and pump more money into research and development resulting in the creation of "thousands of jobs." This announcement comes a month after the state released details of a study that showed N.C. was in a strong position to capture a good bit of the more than $100 billion that is expected to be invested in developing offshore wind over the next 15 years.

DAVID KELLY: Turn North Carolina's climate goals into action

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 -- With the election over, it's time for Gov. Roy Cooper to take action on the important goals he set to address climate change during his first term by implementing concrete requirements that our electric utilities deliver the energy we need without the pollution that's destabilizing our climate, threatening our health, and putting the future of North Carolina families and businesses at risk.

Editorial: Even in dark times, Cooper, fellow governors seize a brighter future

Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 -- There is so much uncertainty these days. It is hard to imagine contemplating a couple of days or weeks into the future. But Gov. Roy Cooper with the governors of Virginia and Maryland, remind us that we cannot be consumed by apprehension of what the COVID-19 pandemic sends our way. The future isn't limited to what must be done to sway the outcome of the election five days from now. The agreement on offshore wind energy development - a framework for the states to work together to advance projects - is about the future. It is looking ahead years and decades from now.

ANDREW HUTSON: Duke Energy's net-zero emissions goal requires collaboration

Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 -- For Duke Energy to achieve its vision of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the utility must collaborate with stakeholders to create new state policies that can attract clean energy companies and encourage innovation, driving down energy costs in the process. Part of that conversation should include natural gas and how to avoid locking us into fossil fuel infrastructure that could quickly become outdated as the state transitions to widespread use of clean energy.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: N.C. Senate's unique recycling efforts

Monday, June 24, 2019 -- Capitol Broadcasting's editorial cartoonist.

Wind power moratorium clears Senate

Lawmakers say they plan to remove three-year moratorium, but it's in the bill the Senate approved.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Rush to pass bill targeting solar farm clean-up plans criticized

Solar industry pushes back, says legislation is an unreasonable check on growth.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter, & Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Eastern NC wind farm ban bill back, but shrunk to 3 years

A proposed ban on new wind farms in much of eastern North Carolina has re-emerged but is now just a three-year moratorium instead of an indefinite one.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Sen. Harry Brown ID's appropriate wind power source

Friday, May 31, 2019 -- Capitol Broadcasting's editorial cartoonist.

Proposed coastal wind farm ban spinning through Senate

Legislation that would block wind turbines from going up in a large swath of North Carolina's coast cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on Thursday and could be on the Senate floor by early next week.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Seymour Johnson commander calls for "status quo" as NC considers wind farm ban

Dueling generals in committee as legislature considers banning wind turbines in much of eastern North Carolina.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Editorial: They said what?

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 -- In recent days, North Carolina legislative and education leaders offered up statements and positions that left us puzzled and, simply asking ourselves, "They said what?"

DENNIS MCGINN: This Navy test pilot says Sen. Brown's wind energy ban bill is misguided

Thursday, April 4, 2019 -- Senate Bill 377, the 'Military Base Protection Act.' The bill's title actually is a misnomer. It has little to do with protecting military bases. The legislation really is just a ban on wind energy development along North Carolina's coast. While it is important that all development (not just wind development) be compatible with critical military missions, this bill is unnecessary.

Bill would prohibit new wind farms in coastal swath

Almost two years after lawmakers put a halt to new wind farms in the state, Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown on Wednesday filed a bill to get wind energy blowing again in parts of North Carolina - but not in an area that most needs the development.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor