First Name:
Marcus
Last Name:
Taylor
Major Department:
Appropriate Technology/Sustainable Development
Thesis Director:
Dennis Scanlin
Date of Thesis:
May 2010
This project assessed current attitudes toward wind energy in western North Carolina by conducting two surveys. The first was a telephone survey of residents of western North Carolina and the second a mailed survey to Watauga County residents where currently the only commercial scale wind turbine in the state exists. The research that was conducted takes place in the midst of indecision for whether large wind turbines will be allowed in the mountains from a wind permitting bill passing through the state legislature. The history of wind energy in western North Carolina was also discussed, both its development and underdevelopment. Both surveys clearly showed that the majority of western North Carolina residents support wind energy development on mountain ridges in western North Carolina.