Projects

The co-directors and research fellows of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center are involved in both grant-funded projects and general legal research projects. The Center’s objectives include conducting research, education and public service projects that analyze legal issues affecting the use, conservation and management of ocean and coastal resources in North Carolina, and to offer information to affected parties. 

Ocean and coastal resource-related activities in North Carolina are subject to many legal conflicts and a complex regulatory environment. Government agencies and the public alike function more effectively with an awareness of the legal and regulatory requirements and processes for change. The Center, therefore, is unique as a source of specialized and unbiased legal reference and advisory assistance for North Carolina. Below is a partial list of the Center’s projects.

• UNC Wind Feasibility Project
  
  In 2008, the North Carolina General Assembly commissioned a study of the feasibility of wind energy production off the state’s coast. A team compromised of experts from UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State University, East Carolina University, and consulting firms undertook the study, and the Center was tapped to lead the law and policy aspect of the research.

  The team prepared a report entitled “Coastal Wind: Energy for North Carolina’s Future” that identifies and analyzes the wind power resource, potential and ecological impacts, geological foundation constraints, power transmission issues and legal and regulatory barriers associated with wind energy production off North Carolina’s coast. The report identifies key areas along North Carolina’s coast most feasible for wind energy projects that do no significantly conflict with military airspace or natural and cultural resources.

  The report was submitted to the General Assembly in July 2009. Based on the study’s results, the legislature appropriated funds to continue the research. In addition, the legislature authorized up to three turbines in Pamlico Sound to serve as a demonstration project. UNC-Chapel Hill has partnered with Duke Energy for the demonstration project, the goals of which are to determine the viability of offshore wind as a scalable renewable energy resource, to optimize measuring and predicting the wind as an energy source, quantify ecological impacts and demonstrate turbine performance and survivability in severe tropical storm conditions.

• Developing A Management Strategy for North Carolina’s Coastal Ocean
  
  This project, jointly funded by N.C. Sea Grant and the Division of Coastal Management, will focus on providing legal research and information and recommendations on emerging ocean and coastal resource issues in North Carolina.  The project also will act as an update to an ocean policy report provided to the state by Walter Clark, former N.C. Coastal Law and Policy Specialist and Center co-founder. Clark is now a member of the Center’s advisory board.  
  

• The Waterfront Access Study Committee (2007)
  
  In coastal North Carolina, working waterfronts have undergone many changes. Although traditional maritime operations are still present, numerous marine facilities are being redeveloped for residential or other uses.

  North Carolina Sea Grant hosted North Carolina's Changing Waterfronts: Coastal Access and Traditional Uses, a one-day forum on June 5, 2006 at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. Click here to view the conference Web page and speaker presentations.

  Michael Voiland, executive director of North Carolina Sea Grant, chaired the 21-member Waterfront Access Study Committee authorized by the N.C. General Assembly.

  Recommended by the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture (JLCSA), the Waterfront Access Study Committee (WASC) studied the degree of loss and potential loss of diversity of uses along the coastal shoreline of North Carolina and how these losses impact access to the public trust waters of the state.
  
  Michael Voiland, executive director of North Carolina Sea Grant, chaired the 21-member Committee authorized by the N.C. General Assembly.
  
  The North Carolina Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Committee contributed expertise and resources to WASC during its study period (September 2006 through April 2007).
  
  View the WASC final report to the JLCSA.
  
  View the WASC Web site.