A Look into North Carolina’s Growing Offshore Wind Industry
By: Allison Carr, Training Program Manager
What to Know
North Carolina is gearing up for major advancements in offshore wind. The state has set ambitious goals and is seeing tangible progress. Manufacturers, professional service firms, and diverse suppliers will be needed to support the supply chain. Individuals will be able to engage in training opportunities to develop workforce skills and provide public input as projects are developed.
Offshore wind energy development will provide opportunities for North Carolinians to support a growing industry. Here are some of the noteworthy developments:
- In June 2021, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 218 to highlight North Carolina’s commitment to offshore wind power as part of a transition towards a clean energy economy. EO 218 established:
- The NC Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resources Strategies (NC TOWERS) which has been gathering expert advice on economic development, job creation, and
- Offshore wind targets for North Carolina of 2.8 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 8.0 GW by 2040.
- The NC Department of Commerce provides a publicly available NC Wind Energy Supply Chain Map.
What’s Happening Now
As technology evolves and new projects come online, North Carolina is set to play a pivotal role in the renewable energy transition, with projects advancing in 2024.
- Kitty Hawk Wind: The Kitty Hawk Wind Project is located 27 miles off the coast of the Outer Banks and will be developed in two phases. The project, led by Avangrid Renewables, is moving forward with its construction phase.
- Carolina Long Bay: Carolina Long Bay is a proposed offshore wind project located approximately 22 miles from Bald Head Island, NC. In 2022, two individual lease areas were awarded to TotalEnergies Renewables USA and Cinergy Corp., a non-regulated direct subsidiary of Duke Energy. The project is still in the early stages of project development and site assessment surveying.
- Offshore Wind Leasing: In August 2024, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released a call for information related to possible wind energy areas off of coasts from North Carolina to New Jersey. BOEM is currently hosting a series of public meetings to collect feedback on the Central Atlantic 2 Call Area.
Looking Ahead
North Carolina stands at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution. With its strategic location on the Atlantic Coast and growing investment in technology, North Carolina is positioned to become a leader in offshore wind energy.
NCTOWERS and the NC Clean Energy Technology Center have partnered with Oceantic Network to offer North Carolina businesses the opportunity to attend Offshore Wind Ready for free. Offshore Wind Ready is a one-day industry training program led by Oceantic Network’s group of skilled trainers and a panel of industry experts. Offshore Wind Ready offers an overview of business opportunities in the rapidly growing U.S. offshore wind industry. Join us on October 17 in Raleigh to learn how to access the tools and resources to get started and to network with others looking to enter the industry.
