Research Brief
Energy
Environment
Exploring market-based solutions to the most pressing environmental issues facing North Carolina.
Energy
No, We Didn’t Just See the Hottest World Temperatures in 125,000 Years
A headline of “BREAKING: Computer Model Produces Results As Designed” would not sound quite as horrifying as what credulous media treated us with last week. For example, WRAL, which is…
Research Brief
Energy
How MVP Permitting Approvals Can Help Bridge the Gap from Coal to Zero-Emissions Nuclear
The North Carolina Utilities Commission’s initial Carbon Plan would close over 9,000 MWs of coal-fired generation by 2035. Since North Carolina’s only interstate natural gas pipeline is fully subscribed and…
Energy
The Initial Carbon Plan: What Are Its Mandates, and Do They Align with State Law?
Note: This post is a compilation of the five-part series of research briefs on the initial Carbon Plan. They discussed the plan’s mandates for nuclear power and coal (Part 1),…
Energy
Government Affairs Update: Promote Clean Energy (S.B.678)
The North Carolina Senate recently passed Senate Bill 678: Promote Clean Energy, sponsored by Senators Paul Newton, Buck Newton, and David Craven. A commonsense and necessary piece of legislation that…
Energy
Outer Banks Residents Rightly Concerned about Spoiled Views from Offshore Wind
The Outer Banks Voice reported recently that construction will begin next year on the Kitty Hawk wind energy area. Outer Banks residents are properly concerned about spoiled views and other economic impacts…
Research Brief
Energy
Offshore Wind Turbines Severely Interfere with Marine Vessel Radar and Endanger Mariners
In 2022 a major report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine warned that enormous wind turbines severely affect the marine vessel radar (MVR) used for navigating waterways…
Research Brief
Energy
Offshore Wind Projects Off Brunswick County Beaches Also Imperil Military Training and Operations
Wind projects off Brunswick County beaches would also interfere with military training and operations, including airspace used daily by the 169th Fighter Wing out of South Carolina. The Wilmington East…
Research Brief
Energy
Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind Area Red-Flagged by Pentagon
The Pentagon alerted the Biden administration that several offshore wind energy areas slated for development would severely conflict with military operations, facilities, and training. Among the worst ones highlighted is…
Energy
Nuclear Is Obviously Clean Energy
A couple of years ago, I asked whether Gov. Roy Cooper could finally support nuclear power, since even Pres. Joe Biden was. Our existing nuclear power plants have pulled off…
Research Brief
Energy
Spoiled Beach Views from Massive Offshore Wind Turbine Arrays Would Cripple Tourism
NC State researchers in 2016 found that 80 percent of North Carolina beachgoers would either not return to a beach rental if wind turbines were visible — or require an…
Research Brief
Energy
Massive Offshore Wind Turbines with Flashing Lights Would Be Major Features on the Coastal Horizon, Part 2
Turbines under discussion off the coast of Bald Head Island and other Brunswick County beaches would be very tall — 853 feet from base to blade tip, with towers and…
Research Brief
Energy
Massive Offshore Wind Turbines with Flashing Lights Would Be Major Features on the Coastal Horizon
Recently, federal and state government officials and wind energy advocates tried to quell Brunswick County residents’ serious economic concerns about offshore wind turbines spoiling ocean views and harming tourism. Earlier…