The N.C. Senate voted today to ban the commercial generation of wind energy in mountain counties.
Supporters of the ban argued that the construction of large wind turbines on mountain ridges would ruin the natural beauty of the mountains.
Environmentalists say that the state should be encouraging wind power, not limiting it.
One mountain legislator – Sen. Steve Goss, D-Watauga – opposed the ban, saying that while he is committed to protecting the mountains, he also believes wind power shows great potential as a clean, renewable energy source.
He said the state should allow wind technology to continue to develop.
"What we need is not to make a rash decision on this," Goss said.
But Goss's attempts to amend the bill failed, and the bill was approved by a vote of 42-to-1, with Goss providing the only vote against the bill.
The bill now goes to the House, which is unlikely to take it up right away because the General Assembly is close to adjourning for the year. But the bill will remain eligible to be considered in 2010.
An existing state law, which was passed in 1983, limits development on mountain ridges. The state has interpreted that law to prohibit wind turbines. The bill approved by the Senate today would amend the language in the 1983 law to explicitly cover wind turbines.
Under the bill, some smaller windmills would be allowed. They could be no more than 100 feet tall, and they would have to be used primarily for generating electricity for a single home, not for commercial purposes.
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