Electrician Has the Power

Rob Morris | March 28, 2010
Two Thursdays ago, a crowd gathered in Manteo to launch a study of plans to build the country’s first windmills on the water. Turbines taller than the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse would test whether offshore wind power, already used in Europe, makes sense for us.

The day before, Kevin Goode stood before the Nags Head Board of Commissioners to describe his own test, which took place during a blustery week in November. He was alone. His windmill was about the size of a ceiling fan.

To get their windmills turning in the Pamlico Sound, Duke Energy will have to negotiate a regulatory maze. For Goode’s tiny turbine, it took one man to persuade town official to give him a chance to do essentially the same thing, though on a much smaller scale.

Goode moved to the barrier islands from the Washington, D.C. area around 20 years ago, spending his first eight or so on Hatteras Island, ground zero for hurricanes and tropical storms on the Outer Banks. He went through enough power outages that he decided to do something about it when he moved north to Old Nags Head Cove.

Goode doesn’t claim to be an environmentalist, just a guy who likes to keep his drinks chilled and the lights on when the power dies, and maybe save some money when electric rates inevitably go up. He does, however, describe himself as “sort of a mad scientist.”Solar panels on his roof already capture energy. If he has to, he can fire up a generator that burns vegetable oil. He figures a gas generator would burn about a gallon an hour. That comes to around $2.75 at today’s prices. He uses the discharge from his geothermal heat pump to water his lawn.

Power from the solar panels is stored in 16 batteries — the kind used on electric golf carts — and his system is set up to automatically switch over to them if the power goes out. Meanwhile, he estimates the solar panels can harness about $15 worth of power a month.

These days, Goode, 43, works on boat engines. While he was on Hatteras Island, he worked with an electrician installing load management devices that regulate power during peak periods.

Last year, he went to Nags Head town hall to look into permitting for a rooftop windmill. But he was told there was no provision in the town’s zoning to allow one in a residential area. After consideration of his windmills by the Board of Commissioners was delayed, Goode decided to conduct a test alongside the canal behind his home.

Approaching was the big Veteran’s week storm, which earned the name Nor’Ida after spinning off from remains of Hurricane Ida. Like the team studying the proposed Pamlico Sound turbines, he wanted to see how it would hold up against storm-force winds, “mainly as an experiment for me.”

“That thing was angry fast,” he said.

The test accomplished something else. It got the town’s attention since it was in violation of the local ordinance.

Two Wednesdays ago, Goode found himself providing practical expertise on residential rooftop wind power, answering questions posed by the Nags Head commissioners. Their main concern was how durable it would be in the Outer Banks environment and if it would put neighbors at risk.

In the end, the commissioners approved an ordinance that would allow Goode’s turbine and any like it as long as they are commercially manufactured. If they meet certain conditions, they can also be put up on a separate structure. So far, there doesn’t appear to be a line of people ready to follow Goode’s lead.

Goode had to take the windmill down before the town would consider the zoning amendment. As of last week, he hadn’t put it on his roof yet. He said he wanted to make sure he was legally squared away. The amount of power it will generate won’t amount to much, but he hopes it will do a little to supplement the solar panels.

“I’m happy with the town right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, the study of the big Pamlico Sound turbines is just getting started. Environmental impact statements take months, often years, to finish. Even then, there is no guarantee that the turbines will ever be built.