Poll Finds Support for WNC Mountain Wind Turbines

[Appaholic]

But bill in House would limit height

RALEIGH — Thirty years ago, the federal government built the largest wind turbine in the world in Boone. It was a prominent beacon, rising 130 feet on top of a mountain 2 miles north of Appalachian State University, and experts said it could power hundreds of homes.

Now fast forward three decades and the idea of harnessing wind for generating power faces an uncertain future.

The state Senate passed a bill last year that would essentially ban the construction of commercial wind turbines in the mountains. The legislation would limit their height to 100 feet, and commercial turbines are at least 200 feet, said Marcus Taylor, a research assistant at Appalachian State University's Wind Application Center. Now the bill is languishing in the House as legislators focus on the budget, leaving the future of commercial wind energy in the mountains in limbo.

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