North Carolina

Siting and Permitting

Land based wind projects co-exist with agriculture, military installations, avian species, and members of the community. There are a number of regulations, resources, and best practices that ensure wind farms are sited safely and responsibly, taking the military, environment, avian species, cultural, and land use priorities in account.

Federal environmental regulations & cultural preservation efforts require consistency with the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and USFWS Wind Energy Guidelines. 

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse are the lead agencies to ensure that wind farms are compatible with military operations and readiness. All projects under FAA review are mandatorily subjected to review by the DOD Siting Clearinghouse, and projects are only issues a Determination of No Hazard when both agencies determine that it will not have an adverse impact on military operations and readiness. 

At the local level, zoning ordinances are adopted by a county to promote the orderly and controlled development within its borders. As it relates to wind energy, these ordinances regulate several aspects of a wind farm including setbacks, shadow flicker, decommissioning, and noise.

Projects in North Carolina

• The Amazon Wind Farm US East (AWFUSE) is a 208 MW land based wind farm in northeastern North Carolina, and it is the first commercial-scale project in the region. The project was developed by Avangrid Renewables and has been in commercial operation in February of 2017. The project is sited on private land in Perquimans and Pasquotank counties, which receive a combined $640,000 annually in property taxes and will continue to do so over the lifetime of the project. This revenue will help to fund schools, infrastructure, and other public services in the community. The 18-month construction utilized more than thirty North Carolina-based companies and over 500 local employees, resulting in an$18 million in local investment. While the project is located on 22,000 acres, the turbines themselves and all associated facilities use less than 1% of the project footprint, allowing agriculture to continue operations under the turbines. 

• The Timbermill Wind Project, developed by Apex Energy, is located in Chowan County, North Carolina and has an expected capacity of 189 MW, which is enough energy to power up to 47,000 homes every year. In the long term, the project promises to bring sustained tax revenue to the county for local governments and schools, as well as 30 years of local purchasing, employment, and investment. Farmers who host wind turbines and other participating landowners will also receive annual lease payments. These payments will continue over the projected 30-year lifespan of the wind farm, injecting millions of dollars into Chowan County’s economy to support local merchants, contractors, and equipment suppliers.