Park Harnesses Wind Power

Representatives of the North Carolina state government, private industry and environmental groups gathered on Coquina Beach on April 20th to celebrate the installation of a wind turbine that represents the first generation of grid-tied wind energy in eastern North Carolina. 

The 65-foot-high, 2.5-kilowatt wind turbine generator not only supplies energy to the park’s bathhouse at Coquina Beach, but also automatically supplies power to the North Carolina electrical power grid when the bathhouse is closed during winter months. 

“This was truly a partnership of federal and state agencies and private industry,” superintendent Mike Murray said at the dedication ceremony. “The North Carolina state legislature, the state utilities commission, North Carolina State University’s Solar Center, North Carolina GreenPower and Dominion Power all played a part in the establishment of this system. We hope that it will inspire our visitors to look for alternative energy sources for their own uses in the coming years.”