North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has issued an executive order establishing offshore wind development goals of 2.8 GW by 2030 and 8.0 GW by 2040
The executive order highlights the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind and directs action to help the state secure the jobs and economic development associated with the industry’s estimated US$140Bn investment over the next 15 years.
“Offshore wind will help North Carolina create jobs and generate economic development while helping us transition to a clean energy economy,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “North Carolina’s national leadership in clean energy and manufacturing plus our highly trained workforce create a strong business environment for offshore wind supply chain and manufacturing companies.”
In addition to creating economic benefits across North Carolina, the development will help achieve the North Carolina Clean Energy Plan goal of a 70% reduction in power sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders said, “This co-ordinated approach to developing our offshore wind supply chain will bring new jobs to North Carolina for generations to come.
“From building out the supply chain, to installing equipment, to operating offshore wind facilities, North Carolina’s manufacturers and workforce are well positioned to play an integral role in the entire east coast market, not just for projects directly off the state’s coast.”
The order directs the North Carolina Department of Commerce to name a clean energy economic development co-ordinator and establish the North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (NC TOWERS).
It also directs the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to designate offshore wind co-ordinators and take steps to support offshore wind. The order directs quarterly meetings of the North Carolina Offshore Wind Interagency Workgroup to ensure offshore wind activities are well co-ordinated among leadership in relevant agencies.
The executive order follows a bipartisan memorandum of understanding among the governors of North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia in October 2020 that created the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Transformative Partnership for Offshore Wind Energy Resources (SMART-POWER).
The SMART-POWER MOU provides a framework for the three states to co-operatively promote, develop and expand offshore wind energy and the accompanying industry supply chain and workforce.
More recently, the North Carolina Department of Commerce released an offshore wind supply chain and infrastructure report that examines North Carolina’s opportunities to address the offshore wind industry’s supply chain and manufacturing needs.
Responding to the executive order, Business Network for Offshore Wind director of coalitions and partnerships Sam Salustro said, “Thanks to Governor Cooper’s bold leadership, the US offshore wind industry continues to grow larger and the supply chain stronger.
“The Governor’s procurement goal further solidifies investor confidence in the US market and will help drive investment decisions to North Carolina and American shores.
“North Carolina’s history in manufacturing will strengthen the growing domestic supply chain and make the state a major player in the US industry. Every day more is revealed about the overall US market’s true size as more states turn to offshore wind to supply clean, renewable energy and serve as an economic engine for growth and job creation.”
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