(RALEIGH) -- How practical is wind energy in North Carolina? Brian O'Hara of the North Carolina Wind Coalition says it's something that many states are already taking advantage of.

"States like Iowa for example already get about 20 percent of their electricity from wind power," he said.

But Daren Bakst of the John Locke Foundation says the issue comes down to finances, and it will cost the public a lot.

"Really, the issue isn't so much whether or not I like wind or if I like nuclear or coal. The issue is whether or not we should be subsidizing wind power," he said.

The Offshore Wind Jobs and Economic Development bill was introduced last week by State Senator Fletcher Harsell.