Source: Greenville Daily Reflector
Offshore wind farms could bring in thousands of jobs across North Carolina’s coast, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s offshore wind task force.
The clean energy industry could bring up to 85,000 jobs by 2035 and would support President Biden’s administration’s effort to develop 30 gigawatts of U.S.-based wind power by 2030.
“We can get there, but that’s going to require a very significant ramp-up in a lot of areas: domestic manufacturing, ports, vessels, workforce. All of those are going to need to ramp up, and quickly, to meet those 2030 targets,” said John Hardin, executive director of the Commerce’s Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation, during an offshore wind energy projects discussion at East Carolina University.
Regional and international partners are helping to develop several projects that are underway, including the offshore wind farm pitch.
“Between our universities, our workforce, our manufacturing presence, we have everything that is needed to really make North Carolina a key player in the offshore wind industry,” stated Chairwoman Marqueta Welton, chief of staff for the Department of Commerce, during the discussion.
According to WFAE, North Carolina is pitching two potential wind ports: Radio Island at Morehead City and Southport, near Wilmington. Currently, one large wind project is already in development 27 miles off Kitty Hawk.
“Offshore wind is here, and it’s coming hard in the U.S.,” Governor Cooper stated during a press conference. “North Carolina will play a leadership role in clean energy development and for manufacturing for decades to come, that I guarantee you.”
