Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

The Effect of Utilities Regulation on the Economics of Wind Energy in North Carolina

Thumbnail
View / Download
1.5 Mb
Date
2009-04-24
Author
Vale, Susannah
Advisors
Smith, Martin
Salvesen, David
Repository Usage Stats
757
views
1,239
downloads
Abstract
In order for wind energy to be feasible in the sounds of North Carolina, it must be economical. The price paid for electricity produced by wind must be sufficiently high to translate into a reasonable rate of return for developers and investors. Countervailing tensions on regulators, utilities and the renewable energy generators function to depress the price of wind energy. Lawmakers have passed utility regulations in order to improve the economic situation of wind energy projects by either diminishing the initial capital needed, lowering the risk or ensuring a fair price. The two primary utility statutes affecting the economics of wind energy in North Carolina, the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and North Carolina’s Renewable Portfolio Standard of 2007, have thus far been ineffectual. If the North Carolina legislature wants to develop wind energy in their state, it should amend NC REPS to add a wind energy percentage requirement to put it on equal footing with solar. Alternatively, adding externalities into the cost calculation would make wind one of the most economical of all the electricity options.
Type
Master's project
Department
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Subject
wind energy
economics
utilities regulation
PURPA
REPS
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1012
Citation
Vale, Susannah (2009). The Effect of Utilities Regulation on the Economics of Wind Energy in North Carolina. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1012.
Collections
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
More Info
Show full item record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Rights for Collection: Nicholas School of the Environment


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University