Outer Banks restaurant gets permission for wind turbine

Posted to: Environment

By Kristin Davis
The Virginian-Pilot

KILL DEVIL HILLS

Five years and two tries later, the Outer Banks Brewing Station is getting a windmill.

The Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 Wednesday night on a zoning amendment that would allow the restaurant to put up a wind turbine.

It will be the first business on the Outer Banks to do so, said Aubrey Davis, the restaurant’s co-owner.

The Brewing Station received approval for a windmill in 2002 from the town’s planning board, but the Board of Commissioners later denied the restaurant’s request.

Davis said he and co-owner Eric Reece decided to try again because, several years later, people were still asking him about it. Also since then, the National Park Service has installed a wind turbine at a bathhouse south of Nags Head, and Jockey’s Ridge State Park has talked of plans of putting up two.

About 20 people spoke at a public hearing Wednesday. All but one voiced support for the wind turbine.

Commissioner Jeff Finch voted against the amendment. “I have had many calls from people who are against it,” he said.

To the people opposed

Submitted by Michael_Ragsdal on Mon, 11/05/2007 at 2:11 pm.

How much did OPEC pay you to oppose wind energy? Wind turbines are wonderful. Sure beats the high cost of fossil fuels any day.

I will never understand some people.

Submitted by BobinGermany on Thu, 10/25/2007 at 9:08 pm.

Why could anyone be against wind turbines? I lived in Virginia Beach for 47 years before moving to Germany. We have 8 of them less than 1/4 mile from our house. They are located on a farm. Yes, they are very tall. But for speptics, they are completely silent, the blades turn so slow a drunk turkey would have a hard time getting hit by one of them. And.... just these 8 provide 1/2 of the energy consumed by 8 little cities. People, this is free electricity, it does not pollute anything, no risk of a nuclear meltdown, and it does not use up our natural resources. Alot of the people that oppose these have no consideration for future generations or the effects of pollution on the generation that now exists. Look out and help the earth!

Get it Done!

Submitted by MikeR on Thu, 10/25/2007 at 3:06 pm.

Everyday, wind energy is becomming more competitive with fossil fuel based energy. Large industrial size turbines in modern wind farms turn slowly and are virtually silent. Land underneath them can be used for agriculture. I'm sure this particular turbine will be smaller and turn faster but will still be virtually silent. This is a gleaming, white monument to the future - better than building coal power plants which cause CO2 buildup and acid rain. Wind is not the complete answer to all of our energy needs, but where wind resources are adequate, it is an environmentaly sound piece of the puzzle. Congratulations OBBS on your forward thinking. We need more like you! Please post information and results in your business as an educational tool.

Anyone want a Wind Turbine in their neighbors backyard?

Submitted by hunterk on Thu, 10/25/2007 at 1:56 pm.

A Wind Turbine can be 300 feet high. In Palm Springs, CA they have thousands of them and they are eyesores. I'm not saying that is wrong, others are saying that. That is why they were not approved in Nantucket, Mass. If you have one on the Outer Banks, you will have thousands in 10 years.

Better late then never

Submitted by asnerj on Thu, 10/25/2007 at 1:39 pm.

That business has been trying to push a progressiveness from get go. Their water treatment facility is unparalleled and beer is fantastic.From like 2002 on they had the best live music on the island. The business and owner Eric Reese and wife Tina just knows whats up. Congratulations on evolving your surroundings. Keep it up and don't stop brewing the wheat beer

Smart Thinking

Submitted by joels97401 on Thu, 10/25/2007 at 12:38 pm.

Seems like a logical energy alternative as the Outer Banks is one of the windiest places in North America. What possible reason could someone have to oppose a wind turbine. Aren't they silent? They are certainly not ugly to look at.

Unbelievable

Submitted by Logic-dictates on Thu, 10/25/2007 at 12:33 pm.

There are selfish people out there willing to sacrifice our children for imported energy for the sake of their ocean view. Becoming an energy independent nation is very easy, but it has to start somewhere, and if anyone wants to put wind mills or solar panels on their business or house - then we should applaud them. Personally I think a wind mill is a thing of beauty in comparison to a headstone. Wake up people and stop thinking about just yourselves.