NC Joins Wind Consortium

The governors of North Carolina and nine other East Coast states have joined federal authorities to form a consortium that will promote the development of offshore wind energy.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday the establishment of the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium will promote safe and environmentally responsible development, enhance the nation’s energy security, and create jobs.

Salazar says a regional renewable energy office has been set up to coordinate and expedite the development of wind, solar and other renewable energy resources off the Atlantic coast. Salazar in April authorized the nation’s first offshore wind farm off Cape Cod.

The states are Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.