Governor McCrory Urges More Federal, State Cooperation In Offshore Energy Development | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Houston, TX — Governor Pat McCrory participated in a panel discussion today on U.S. offshore energy development at the annual Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. The governor was joined by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (NC), House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (UT) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Abigail Ross Hopper.

    "North Carolina is ready to get off the sidelines and into the energy business," Governor McCrory said. "Domestic energy development provides states and the nation a vehicle to drive the economy forward through job creation, lowering energy costs for consumers and reducing our dependence on foreign energy supplies. Let's work together to cut the red tape and open our waters to safe, responsible energy development."

    During his remarks, McCrory covered four priority areas related to offshore oil and natural gas development. He urged the federal government to review applications for seismic surveys in the Atlantic by the end of the year; stressed the need for equitable revenue sharing with energy-producing states; criticized the "one-size-fits-all" buffer area imposed in the Atlantic; and discussed the need for additional Atlantic lease sales in the next Five-Year Program.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov