Coastal Wind Energy Study In summer 2008, the North Carolina General Assembly directed the UNC Board of Governors to study wind energy feasibility University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designated to conduct the study (led by C. Elfland, AVC for Campus Services; project manager D. McCarthy, UNC Energy Services) Study area Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds Off shore over waters less than 30 meters in depth Study scope Potential for energy production Benefits from reducing dependence on fossil fuel for electricity generation Siting Ecological impacts Statutory or regulatory barriers Feasibility and synergistic benefits of co-siting wind turbines and artificial oyster reefs Report due date - July 1, 2009

Coastal Wind Energy Study Study Components Wind resource evaluation, including energy potential Siting, including geology Turbine alternatives, including foundation systems Potential synergies of co-location with artificial oyster/fish reef sanctuaries including foundation compatibility Coastal environmental issues Coastal area statutory and regulatory issues and barriers Utility transmission infrastructure including collection, sound-to-shore, and interconnections Utility statutory and regulatory issues and barriers, including federal, regional, and state Economic feasibility

Coastal Wind Energy Study Phase 1 Tasks Evaluate existing wind resource models Migratory bird pathways, waterbird foraging areas, endangered species habitat Coastal statutory and regulatory issues Utility statutory and regulatory issues Utility transmission and interconnection capacity Sound bottom geology structural adequacy evaluation Preliminary assessment of compatibility of turbine foundation systems and artificial marine habit. Carbon reduction potential Preliminary economic evaluation

Wind Resource Evaluation Led by H. Seim (Marine Sciences, UNC-CH) and G. Lackmann (RENCI/NCSU) Will evaluate existing wind power estimates from AWS Truewinds by analyzing available 10 meter wind observations from eastern NC Requires extrapolation of 10 m winds to turbine height – will examine several possible methods, and collect new observations Will initiate archive and evaluation of regional wind models being run by NC Climatology Office and RENCI

[m/s]

At measurement height (most at 10 m, some offshore at 5 m, one at 44m) No adjustment to turbine height >400=excellent >300=superior >250=v. good >200=good >150=fair <100=poor W/m 2 * * - collection height=44 m Preliminary, from IE/UNC-CH Capstone course final report, fall 2008

Wind Power Evaluation (cont.) Vertical extrapolation – tricky – must account for varying roughness of lower boundary (straightforward) and horizontal variations (internal boundary layers - more difficult) For NC, changes in water temperature between the sounds and ocean can lead to important changes in wind speed that may not be accounted for in existing wind power estimates Examining existing vertical wind profile observations to assess extrapolation techniques

Migratory Birds, Waterbird Foraging Areas and Endangered Species Habitats Led by P Peterson (Institute of Marine Sciences, UNC-CH) Assembling existing information, including interviews with local experts Will be used to define possible exclusion areas Avoiding/reducing conflict with others Airspace (military, training, FAA), navigation corridors, heavily fished areas, recreational areas, visual impact areas Environmental impacts, in the Sounds and offshore Will consider species of concern, marine mammals, butterflies, birds, bats and soft-sediment benthos Mitigation methods Noise, lighting, perches, AEC disturbances

Coastal statutory and regulatory issues Led by J. Kalo (Law School, UNC-CH) and L. Schiavinato (NC Sea Grant, NCSU) Working with law fellows to outline federal framework, including recent proposals by MMS Reviewing existing state laws and regulations and considering need for new or revised laws and regulations Reviewing the roles of the Coastal Resources, Environmental Management and Utilities Commissions in permitting and the need for a consolidated permitting process

Utility Statutory and Regulatory Issues Led by K. Higgins (Energy Strategies, Inc.) Will identify utility statutory and regulatory barriers to construction of wind farms and the sale of wind energy Examine ways to address the barriers

Utility Transmission and Interconnection Capacity Led by K. Higgins (Energy Strategies, Inc.) Assess capacity of existing transmission facilities adjacent to the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and offshore to carry additional load Status: Some challenges in getting access to transmission maps (security issues), being worked through

Sound Bottom Geology Structural adequacy Led by Jerry Schuett (AEI Engineering) Identify turbine foundation system alternatives to a depth of 30 meters Will assume monopole foundation for artificial reef compatibility studies

Assess compatibility of turbine foundation systems and artificial marine habitat Led by P. Peterson (Inst. For Marine Sciences, UNC-CH) Assess the compatibility of turbine foundations with artificial oyster/fish reefs and identify conflicts to co- location

Carbon Reduction Potential Led by D. Arneman (Energy Services, UNC-CH) Estimate carbon reduction from utilization of wind power versus fossil fuel power Will require some assumptions about wind farm size, location, lifetime, etc

Preliminary Economic Analysis Led by Nick Travis (Energy Strategies, Inc) Preliminary economic feasibility analysis sufficient to make go/no-go decision for next phase