Governors Cooper, Northam, Hogan Partner to Accelerate Offshore Wind Energy

(RALEIGH, NC – Oct. 29, 2020) Today, the governors of Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia announced the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Transformative Partnership for Offshore Wind Energy Resources (SMART-POWER), a collaborative effort to advance offshore wind and generate economic investment within the three states. The initiative will facilitate the promotion, development and expansion of the offshore wind industry and supply chain in the Mid-Atlantic, leveraging each state’s attributes to attract new wind projects, jobs and economic development.

“The bipartisan initiative by Governors Cooper, Northam and Hogan underscores a burgeoning consensus for commonsense climate efforts and the realization that environmental protection and economic development go hand-in-hand. These governors are helping their states realize the economic potential inherent in the transition to a more modern, cleaner and healthier electricity system.

“Importantly, Maryland and Virginia have coupled strategic investment in clean energy technologies with strong limits on climate pollution from power plants in their states. North Carolina has an exciting opportunity to join this effort to help achieve the state’s climate goals.”

• David Kelly, Senior Manager for North Carolina Political Affairs at EDF