August 2, 2021
North Carolina

Commissioners pass resolution opposing wind turbines built too close to shore

By Kassie Simmons | WECT | Aug. 2, 2021 | www.wect.com

If you visit Brunswick County beaches and you look out onto the horizon, you might see a boat or two, but for the most part, it’s empty. The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners wants to make sure that doesn’t change.

That’s why commissioners unanimously passed a resolution on Monday that would keep the coast clear by discouraging any potential wind turbines to be built along the coast.

While there aren’t any plans in the works for new wind turbines, the Bureau of Ocean Emergency Management issues leases for wind turbines to go up in the ocean as close as 10 nautical miles from the shore. They have no significant impact on the human environment, but there was never a study done on visual impacts those turbines would have.

Some municipalities have taken issue with the idea of turbines on the horizon possibly deterring tourists from visiting down the road.

“In this particular resolution, what we’re saying is if you’re going to pursue that as a state and as a federal government, then you do that at 24 nautical miles or further out,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Randy Thompson.

Monday’s resolution does not determine whether or not turbines can be put on the coast in the future.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/08/02/commissioners-pass-resolution-opposing-wind-turbines-built-too-close-to-shore/