US seeks interest for wind farms off NC coast
US agency seeking to hear from companies interested in building wind farms miles off NC coast
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The U.S. government is measuring how much interest there is in developing wind farms offshore of North Carolina's northern Outer Banks and Cape Fear.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Wednesday it wanted to hear who would be interested in leasing blocks of ocean to build and operate offshore wind farms in three potential areas. One area is six miles off Kitty Hawk, while the other two are seven miles and 13 miles at sea south of Wilmington.
The call for proposals is the first step in the government's offshore wind planning process before deciding whether to issue commercial wind leases.
Public comments will be accepted for 45 days, and the bureau plans to schedule information meetings to accept comments.
