The Daily Tar Heel
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Friday, March 29, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

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The Daily Tar Heel

TO THE EDITOR:

In light of Gov. Perdue’s recent veto of the Energy Jobs Act, which would have opened North Carolina up to dangerous forms of energy exploration such as natural gas fracking and offshore oil drilling, it is important to also commend Perdue for the proactive policies she is embracing that can steer North Carolina towards a clean energy economy.

Through Executive Order 96, the Governor formed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Task Force, placing North Carolina on the path to pursuing renewable energy options that will create jobs and spur investment in the state.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, offshore wind in North Carolina could bring $2.7 million a year in payments to landowners and $10.7 million a year in local property tax revenue. The construction phase alone could create 1,628 new jobs, bringing $188.5 million into local economies.

Even after the initial construction phase is completed, offshore wind would sustain 243 new long-term jobs and bring $21.2 million a year to local economies. After 20 years, the total economic benefit of offshore wind in N.C. would bring $1.1 billion into the state, directly and indirectly.

Short-sighted, anti-environmental state legislators have failed to put forward a jobs agenda for putting North Carolinians back to work and expanding our energy opportunities. Hopefully, Perdue’s task force can change that.

Stewart Boss
UNC Sierra Student Coalition

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