After the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a Call for Information and Nominations for commercial wind leases off the North Carolina coast in December, five companies expressed their interest in offshore wind development there, the Charlotte Observer informs.
The companies filed positive responses to the call, without obligatory commitments or detailed proposals.
“We responded we are interested, but there is a long way to go,” the news site cites Dan Genest , spokesman for Dominion , whose Virginia Electric and Power Co. is one of the five interested companies.
Even though offshore wind turbines will not be seen off the North Carolina coast in next few years, the support for this renewable resource is great.
Governor Pat McCrory sent a letter to the BOEM in January , announcing his support for the decision to designate three sites off the state’s coast for offshore wind development.
Last month , Sen. Kay Hagan and Representatives David Price and Mike McIntyre joined the call for offshore wind development in North Carolina.
Finally, poll results from the NC Sustainable Energy Association show that 75.8% of North Carolinians support offshore wind power.
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Offshore WIND Staff, March 13, 2013; Image: Vattenfall