The development of industrial scale wind plants in western North Carolina is a legal, political, economic, and environmental question. In order to understand the current situation of proposed wind energy in North Carolina , it is necessary to understand the relevancy of the "Ridge Law". In 1983, following the construction of an obtrusive high rise condominium on Sugar Mountain in Avery County, public outrage led to the NC General Assembly's enactment of The NC Mountain Ridge Protection Act (G.S. 113A-205). The Ridge Law prevents structures exceeding 40 feet from being erected along ridge tops exceeding 3000 feet. There are several exceptions, but the ones relevant to this discussion are: structures of a relatively slender nature and minor vertical projections of a parent building, including chimneys, flagpoles, spires, steeples, belfries, cupolas, antennas, poles, wires, or windmills . The interpretation of this wording is currently in dispute.
In the fall of 2001, the Tennessee Valley Authority attempted to establish an industrial scale wind plant in Tennessee near the NC border, and possibly into NC. This attempt met considerable opposition by NC residents. A Feb. 2002 letter from NC Attorney General Roy Cooper to the TVA asserted that the wind turbines (defining them as different from windmills) would be prohibited by the Ridge Law.
It is our belief that the Attorney General's interpretation of the Ridge Law is thorough, well reasoned and correct, and clearly prohibits installation of wind turbines. For Wind Developers and advocates to imply that 400 ft. wind turbines are exempt
while 40 ft. tall buildings or structures are not
is ludicrous, and would render the Ridge Law useless.

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