The US states of Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia are partnering to become a hub for the offshore wind industry.
The trio have formed the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Transformative Partnership for Offshore Wind Energy Resources (Smart-Power), which is designed to advance offshore wind projects in the region and promote the area as a hub for the sector, as well as its supply chain.
Smart-Power creates a framework for Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia to develop and expand offshore wind energy in the region as well as grow the supply chain and workforce.
Business Network for Offshore Wind president and chief executive Liz Burdock said: “An alliance between Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia balances offshore wind economic development more evenly across the east coast.
“The market is now too dynamic and requires such large-scale collaboration that no one state should go it alone; regional cooperation is a must as the industry begins a multi-billion dollar build out over the next decade.”
American Wind Energy Association senior director of policy and regulatory affairs for offshore wind Laura Morton said: “We applaud this bipartisan move by Governors Hogan, Hooper, and Northam to harness the employment and investment benefits that offshore wind development represents to their individual states and the whole region.
“By adding multi-state coordination to their individual efforts, the three states will be able to more forward more efficiently to develop their infrastructure and local supply chains to unleash this brand-new American energy industry and the jobs and investments that come with it.
“The offshore wind industry stands ready to support the states as we work together to bring clean, reliable, and affordable power to communities in the US southeast and Mid-Atlantic.”