Browsing by Subject "Renewable natural resources"

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    Offshore Wind in Coastal North Carolina: A Feasibility Study
    (2004) Regan, Jessica E.
    The objective of this study is to evaluate and analyze data related to the construction of an offshore wind facility located in coastal North Carolina in order to determine whether or not a renewable energy project of this scope and magnitude would be feasible. In order to determine how feasible such a development would be for coastal North Carolina, several different aspects of the project will be analyzed: Ecological impacts, including potential changes in coastal geology and climate patterns; regulations and legal issues; economic issues; and the public’s perception of wind energy. Based on these analyses, recommendations will be made as to whether a project of this scope would be a reasonable undertaking.
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    The Creation of a Regulatory Regime for Offshore Wind Energy in the United States
    (2006) Peloso, Margaret E.
    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 empowered the Secretary of the Interior through the Minerals Management Service to regulate the development of renewable energy on the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States. The goal of this paper is to review the development of offshore wind energy and develop a set of recommendations for the Minerals Management Service as it proceeds with the development of regulations for renewable energy generation on the Outer Continental Shelf. In creating recommendations for the Minerals Management Service, the historical uses of the Outer Continental Shelf, proposals for wind energy development in the United States, and wind energy development in Europe were reviewed. A substantial portion of this Masters Project was submitted to the Minerals Management Service in the public comment period that closed on February 28, 2006. A copy of the comments as submitted to the Minerals Management Service is available from the author upon request.
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    THE DYNAMICS OF SHORELINE MANAGEMENT: AN APPROACH USING RENEWABLE RESOURCE ECONOMICS
    (2003) Woglom, Emily
    The combination of coastal development and naturally retreating shorelines in sensitive barrier island ecosystems has led to increased demand for shoreline management. The strategy of beach nourishment is commonly used to build an artificial beach in order to maintain recreational benefits and protect oceanfront property. A simulation model was developed to examine the costs and benefits associated with nourishment and to compare these with an alternate strategy of relocating coastal structures. This model uses principles of renewable resource economics to characterize the effect of the natural and anthropogenic rates of growth and decay on the net benefits of a beach. Hedonic property value studies of coastal areas were used to characterize some of the benefits of beaches. A regression analysis was performed to determine the structure of the cost curve for nourishment projects as a function of the volume of sand used. The results of the simulation model highlight the importance of considering the dynamics of these systems and the effects of each strategy over time. The relative efficiency of a repeated nourishment strategy is shown to depend on the frequency with which nourishments must be carried out. In addition, progress was made towards outlining the necessary components for modeling the optimal path of management decisions.