Cape Lookout light could go from electric to solar

The U.S. Coast Guard is considering changing out the electric light at the top of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse to a solar LED one.

Ben Wunderly, NC Maritime Museum Associate Curator says, "This will be kind of an exciting time for the lighthouse and to see it change like this and to know that they are looking toward the future for these structures."

The current light runs off of electricity and can be seen from 24 nautical miles off shore. But Coast Guard officials say the wires that work to power the light are coming to the end of their life, and instead of replacing them, they would like to switch to a solar LED light.

If the change is made, instead of being seen from 24 miles it would only reach out to 14, which officials say is still a very safe distance from the dangerous shoals that line our coast.

Wunderly says, "The projection of the light is going to be diminished some when they install the new light and the mechanism isn't going to affect coastal navigation to any type of degree. People rely on so many other ways around the capes of North Carolina."

The new solar light would still flash every 15 seconds like the current one does but would not rotate.

No changes have been made yet. Right now Coast Guard officials say they want to hear from the public and will be taking input until May 16th.

Coast Guard officials say the Cape Lookout Lighthouse would join 22 out of 39 lighthouses that have made the switch along the coast from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.