Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  June 11, 2021

North Carolina Gov. Plans Extensive Offshore Wind Deployments

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued June 9 an executive order committing the state to the development of 2.8 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 8 GW by 2040.

The governor intends for the deployment of this offshore wind to help the state achieve its goal of reducing power sector greenhouse gas emissions by 70% before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

“Offshore wind power will help North Carolina create jobs and generate economic development while helping us transition to a clean energy economy,” Gov. Cooper said in a statement. “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.”

The order directs the North Carolina Department of Commerce to name a clean energy economic development coordinator and establish the North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (NC TOWERS). Additionally, state agencies will be required to support offshore wind development within their respective capacities.

A bipartisan memorandum of understanding among the governors of North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia in October 2020 to develop the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Transformative Partnership for Offshore Wind Energy Resources (SMART-POWER) served as the basis for this executive order, created in cooperation with the offshore wind efforts of the other states.