Gov. Roy Cooper today issued an executive order committing North Carolina to support offshore wind development goals of 2.8 gigawatts by 2030 and 8.0 gigawatts by 2040.
Executive Order No. 218 highlights the environmental and economic benefits that can be realized from developing offshore wind energy production. It calls for naming a clean energy economic development coordinator and a task force to support offshore wind development in the N.C. Department of Commerce, along with roles for other state agencies to help meet the executive order's goals.
The N.C. Sierra Club, in a February blog post, encouraged Governor Cooper to set specific targets for offshore wind development to encourage industry investment and build on Cooper's 2018 executive order on clean energy and climate change.
"North Carolina is one of the most promising locations on the East Coast for offshore wind development. Governor Cooper's targets for offshore wind energy production are a clear message to clean energy investors that North Carolina will support their businesses," said Erin Carey, the N.C. Sierra Club's director of coastal programs. "We have the location, the workforce, and the backing of state and local governments to take advantage of our coastline's great clean energy potential and to help address climate change."