Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
N.C. coast ideal for wind farms, but logistics complicated
The Star News (Wilmington)
For years, chatter about the possibility of offshore wind power in North Carolina has hummed among state environmental groups. In the past year, that conversation intensified as concrete plans to develop the state's offshore resource moved forward through federal channels. ... The turbines could provide habitat for several threatened species, boosting their fledgling population numbers and allowing charter companies to ferry higher numbers of tourists on offshore excursions…."The base of the wind turbine that goes into the sea floor has, placed around it, something that engineers call a scour apron," said Pete Peterson, professor of marine sciences, biology and ecology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. "It's a huge pile of very large rocks that stands up to 6 feet tall off the bottom, and extends out a substantial distance around the entire pile. That is exactly what you would build if you wanted to do a restoration of the rocky habitat for fish, including the snapper-grouper complex." Read more »
Launch ready to give businesses a leg up
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
The Launch business incubator is one piece of an economic plan, but it shows what the town, county and university can do together, officials said at an open house Wednesday. ...Chancellor Holden Thorp said the venture has been a hugely successful partnership and reflects a lot of the town’s pent-up enthusiasm. He was especially proud to see a former student, Betty Cogdell, making a go of her dream to sell gluten- and dairy-free baked goods. Thorp’s advice to potential entrepreneurs: “It’s a lot harder to do than you think it’s going to be, and a lot of people who quit don’t realize how close they might be to the goal line. If you can find a way to keep going, it’s always worth it.” Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories AND compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
