News Release »
| Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor | Dee Freeman, Secretary |
| N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources |  |
| Release: Immediate | Contact: Charlie Peek | |
| Date: 2010-06-02 | Phone: (919) 715-8709 |
Jockey's Ridge State Park Erects Wind Turbine to Supply Electric Power
RALEIGH -- The wind that has shaped the sands at Jockey’s Ridge State Park for centuries will now supply electric power to the park through a 60-foot-high wind turbine erected near the visitor center, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
The wind turbine with three blades is 23 feet in diameter and is positioned on a single pole near the visitor center and several hundred yards from the 80-foot-high sand dune that gives the coastal state park in Dare County its name. Construction of the turbine was completed in late May and park officials anticipate it will begin generating electricity in June.
“Part of our mission in the state parks system is to exemplify good stewardship and explore sustainable ways of operating and helping people enjoy the natural resources,” Park Superintendent Debo Cox said. “The wind turbine will help us cut costs, and it will also serve as a working educational exhibit for visitors.”
Exactly how much power the turbine will produce is not known, but upon final inspection, it will be connected to the power grid via Dominion North Carolina Power. Park officials anticipate its power generation will offset most of the cost of supplying the visitor center, which includes an exhibit hall, an auditorium and park offices.
Park staff worked with the town of Nags Head to secure permits and also conducted early studies with a mobile lift to assess any negative visual impact the turbine might have. The staff and biologists with the state parks system also conducted a year-long study to ensure the turbine would not have any negative impact on coastal or migratory birds. The monopole-style structure, which doesn’t require guy wires, was chosen to reduce effects on birds in flight.
The turbine was manufactured by Bergey Windpower Inc. The cost of the project was $140,000, which includes outdoor exhibits that explain its operation to park visitors. The project was supported by the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the principal funding source for state parks capital projects and land acquisition.
# # #