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.
Meetings
- 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 |
| Walter Gaskin | Secretary, N.C. Department of Military & Veterans Affairs |
| 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 |
| David Kelly | N.C. Office Director, Environmental Defense Fund |
| Karly Lohan | Communication and Outreach Associate, Southeastern Wind Coalition |
| 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 |
| Norris Tolson | CEO and President, Carolinas Gateway Partnership |
| 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
Select members of the N.C. Commerce staff support the Taskforce's work.
- 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, Office of Governor Roy Cooper, Policy Advisor
- Dana Magliola, N.C. Dept. of Transportation, Program Manager, Freight & Logistics
- 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.