Carteret mulls temporary ban of wind-energy projects

BEAUFORT — Carteret County is considering a moratorium on permits for wind energy projects while commissioners review the county’s current regulations of such a utility.

The Carteret County Board of Commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing 6 p.m. Jan. 2 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City to glean public comments about a possible temporary ban up to 60 days on the issuance of any permits for wind-energy facilities in Carteret County.

The moratorium’s purpose would be to give the board an opportunity to review — and possibly revise — existing ordinances that regulate wind-energy facilities.

The action was raised at a special board meeting Friday. According to the public notice, the meeting was called to discuss wind-energy facilities and proposed projects.

Much of the meeting was an overview of the status of a proposed wind energy facility that would put about 40 industrial wind turbines on more than 7,000 acres outside of Newport.

The plans, known as the Mill Pond Project, have sparked concerns about the impact of the turbines on the military flight training at Cherry Point as well as to the county’s tourism industry and the health and safety of surrounding residents.

Commissioner Jonathan Robinson introduced the possibility of a moratorium. Robinson said he was of the impression that action on the moratorium was the reason for the special meeting. Robinson was one of the commissioners who asked for the meeting.

Chairman Greg Lewis at the meeting’s start advised no decisions would be made.

“I was told the special meeting was called specifically for that,” Robinson said.

There was a large crowd in attendance at the meeting.

Lewis said the meeting was intended to give the public as much information as possible on the proposal; and where things stand in regards to what steps the county can take.

Lewis said a discussion of the moratorium process was one of the items to consider.

But law requires steps taken before enacting a moratorium.

County Manager Russell Overman said the board couldn’t set the moratorium, but could call for the public hearing.

“As far as establishing a moratorium today, you can’t do that, but you do have the ability to call for a public hearing,” he said.

Robinson made a motion to set the public hearing and it was approved by a unanimous vote.

During discussions, Commissioner Elaine Crittenton, who lives near the project area and works in the health field, expressed concerns about infrasound, or sound waves humans cannot hear. She said it was important that the board stays focused on moving forward.

Torch Renewable Energy LLC of Texas has filed an application with the N.C. Utilities Commission for approval for the project but has yet to make formal application for a siting permit required by the state or to either Carteret County of the Town of Newport, the local governments from which permits would be required.

The public comment period for the Utilities Commission application ends Dec. 23, after which a decision from the Utilities Commission could be made and move the permitting process forward.

Commissioner Robin Comer said the board wants to be proactive in the process and try to address concerns in advance of a project being put in place. He expressed concerns about the agenda and said he had asked that issues with the county’s tall structures ordinance be discussed.

State Rep. Pat McElraft, who represents Carteret County, said she believes Carteret County considering a moratorium is a good idea.

During the meeting, she said that she had talked directly to representatives from Torch Renewable about the concerns.

She said the wind turbines are not a fit for the area. The threat to military training at Cherry Point alone is a major concern that could topple the project but the others remain even if the military were to approve it.

In an interview after the meeting, McElraft said she has talked to them about focusing solely on the solar part of the project. With a new mandate that the military use a certain percentage of renewable energy, she said a solar project could help meet that goal without the concerns of the wind turbines.

“To me, solar is a much better way to go,” McElraft said.

She said the company hasn’t abandoned the current proposal but she was notified that they have made an application for just a solar project as well.