BVG Associates wins North Carolina offshore wind gig

UK-headquartered consultancy company BVG Associates has been awarded a contract by the North Carolina Department of Commerce to assist the agency with an offshore wind industry supply chain and infrastructure assessment.

BVG Associates will help the Department research and develop an inventory of businesses, organizations, and physical infrastructure best positioned to promote offshore wind development in North Carolina, according to a press release from 11 August.

“Moving to a clean energy economy will bring new jobs and economic growth to North Carolina”, said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “The Commerce Department’s study will gather the information and insights we need to prepare our infrastructure and our workforce for the future opportunities this promising industry offers us”.

The new assessment report, which is part of the ongoing work to implement North Carolina’s Clean Energy Plan put into effect by the State’s Governor Roy Cooper two years ago, is expected to be published later this year.

In 2019, Governor Cooper set aside USD 1.5 million to boost clean energy and green businesses in the proposed 2019-2021 budget, including USD 300,000 for a study on North Carolina’s potential to host offshore wind operations and associated jobs.

On the North Carolina assessment, BVG Associates will work together with representatives from Lloyd’s Register Energy Americas, Timmons Group, and North Carolina State University.

Waters offshore North Carolina are home to the Kitty Hawk lease area. Avangrid Renewables secured the rights to develop the 122,405-acre lease area offshore Kitty Hawk in May 2017.