NCTowers*, the North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies, provides expert advice to Governor Cooper and state policymakers on ways to advance offshore wind energy projects in North Carolina, with a special focus on economic development and job creation.
The Taskforce works to:
- Identify economic and workforce opportunities and challenges presented by the offshore wind industry
- Recommend policies and programs to capture strategic opportunities that foster a thriving offshore wind workforce and business community
- Provide advice for developing the state’s offshore wind supply chain, workforce, and infrastructure
- Foster and support environmental justice and equitable access to opportunities for underserved communities
- Recommend policies and guidelines that prioritize offshore wind energy projects
Governor Cooper established the Taskforce in June 2021 with his Executive Order 218, Advancing North Carolina's Economic and Clean Energy Future with Offshore Wind.
Annual Reports
The Taskforce publishes a report each year, highlighting the group's work and offering recommendations for policy makers.
NCTowers 2024 Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly.
NCTowers 2022-2023 Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly.
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter covering wind energy topics and the work of the Taskforce when you visit the Commerce Subscription Center. Just select 'N.C. WindWire' from that page.
Propel NC
Read the Taskforce's letter to the N.C. Community College System in support of Propel NC, a labor-market-driven funding model that prioritizes coursework aligned with high-demand and high-wage jobs.
Meetings
- August 8, 2024 Meeting Materials
- Special Virtual Meeting | May 22, 2024
- ARCHIVE | May 2, 2024 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | February 1, 2024 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | November 2, 2023 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | August 10, 2023 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | May 10, 2023 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | February 9, 2023 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | November 1, 2022 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | August 4, 2022 Meeting Material
- ARCHIVE | May 5, 2022 Meeting Materials
- ARCHIVE | February 3, 2022 Meeting Materials
Taskforce Members
Biographies of the Taskforce's members are also available.
| MEMBER | ROLE AND ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|
| Marqueta Welton, Taskforce Chair | Chief of Staff, N.C. Department of Commerce |
| Jen Banks | Permitting & Development Director (NC), TotalEnergies |
| Ben Cahoon | Mayor, Nags Head, NC |
| Christopher Chung | Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina |
| Brian Clark | Executive Director, North Carolina Ports |
| Phyliss Craig-Taylor | Professor of Law, NCCU School of Law |
| Kevin Dick | President & CEO, Carolina Small Business Development Fund |
| Hayes Framme | Senior Manager Government Relations & Communications, Orsted |
| David Goss | Economic Development Consultant, Perquimans County |
| Daniel Govoni | Policy Analyst, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality |
| Susi Hamilton | Economic Development Advisor, N.C. Department of Transportation |
| Perry Harker | Vice President, Corporate and Community Education, Carteret Community College |
| Arketa Howard | Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Business & Policy Affairs for Offshore Wind, Crowley |
| Stephen Kalland | Executive Director, N.C. State Clean Energy Technology Center |
| Karly Lohan | Communication and Outreach Associate, Southeastern Wind Coalition |
| Munashe Magarira | Staff Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center |
| Grier Martin | Secretary, N.C. Department of Veteran & Military Affairs |
| Mark McIntire | Director, Government Affairs, Energy & Stakeholder Engagement, Duke Energy |
| Ashley K. McLeod | Stakeholder Engagement Director, Avangrid Renewables-Kitty Hawk Offshore |
| Trish Murphey | Executive Assistant for Councils, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries |
| Bob Peele | Director, N.C. Marine Industrial Park Authority |
| Michele Querry | Southeast Regional Director, Chamber for Innovation and Clean Energy |
| Greg Richardson | Executive Director, N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs, N.C. Department of Administration |
| Dan Segovia | Business Manager, Ironworkers Local 848 |
| Jason Semple | Director of Business Development, Brunswick Business & Industry Development |
| Glenn Skinner | Executive Director, North Carolina Fisheries Association |
| Justin Sosne | Head of the UK Government’s North Carolina Office |
| John Szoka | CEO, Conservative Energy Network |
| Brian Turner | Audobon Society |
| Wit Tuttell | Director, Visit North Carolina, EDPNC |
| Alvin Warwick | Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers |
| John White | Chief N.C. Lobbyist Manager - N.C. State & Local Affairs, Dominion Energy |
Taskforce Staff
- Jennifer Mundt, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Assistant Secretary, Clean Energy Development
- John Hardin, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Executive Director, Office of Science, Technology & Innovation
- Emily Roach, N.C. Department of Commerce, Director of Policy & Strategic Planning
- Lex Janes, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Legislative Affairs Director
- Susan Fleetwood, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Executive Director of Economic Development
- Gena Renfrow, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Special Assistant, Office of the Secretary
- Dr. Jenni Harris, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, Executive Director, Business Solutions
- Andrea DeSantis, N.C. Commerce, Assist Secretary of Workforce Solutions
- Dana Magliola, NC Chamber, Senior Director of Infrastructure Competitiveness
- Anders Victor, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Senior Business Development Manager
*The online tool for education data known as NC Tower publishes elsewhere online.
This page was last modified on 12/11/2024