Supporting Energy Resilience on the Outer Banks

In the Fall issue of Coastlines, we announced that CSI and the NCROEP, in conjunction with the Energy Production & Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC-Charlotte, had been chosen as a regional partner for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program, also known as ETIPP. Through the program, DOE and its national and regional partners seek to provide remote and island communities with technical assistance to expand their energy solutions by reducing costs and power disruptions. Over the last several months, communities from all over the U.S. applied for the program, and in late April, eleven of those communities were selected.

Among the eleven chosen for the first round of technical assistance were the Town of Nags Head and Ocracoke Island! Nags Head hopes to explore renewable energy options to help secure 48-72 hours of back-up power source for first-responder facilities during natural disasters, while Ocracoke will begin to prepare for a future that could include an electrified ferry fleet.

“As a community partner in the Department of Energy’s Energy Transition Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP), we are excited about the opportunities to assist coastal communities in accelerating clean energy solutions and enhancing grid resiliency. In addressing Nags Head’s and Ocracoke Island’s unique challenges, there will be valuable lessons learned in building resilient solutions for other islands and remote communities.”, states George Bonner, Director of the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program.

In the months to come, both communities will each meet with CSI and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) team members to identify community needs and establish a path toward becoming more energy resilient. The final product will come in 2022 and will be tailored to each ETIPP community.