Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan group of governors representing the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Governors Coalition met today to discuss the responsible expansion of offshore energy development. The participating governors – Governor Pat McCrory of North Carolina (Chair), Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi and Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia – discussed the benefits and challenges of expanding oil, natural gas and wind energy development, as well as the need for comprehensive revenue sharing legislation that benefits all states with production off their coast.
“As chair of the OCS Governors Coalition, I’m proud to lead this group of dedicated governors that understand the value of harnessing our natural resources in a safe and responsible manner,” said Chairman McCrory. “We appreciate the Obama administration’s commitment to moving forward with seismic imaging in the Atlantic, an information gathering process that will tell us the extent and location of our offshore oil and gas resources. We will continue to work with the administration and Congress in pursuit of a robust offshore energy program as well as expansion of revenue sharing to all states that host offshore energy development.”
At the meeting, the governors in attendance reached a consensus that they will urge their respective congressional delegations to work together to develop regional revenue sharing legislation rather than developing legislation for each individual state. At the next meeting, the governors will discuss onshore infrastructure needs.
Since its formation in 2011, the coalition of coastal governors has advocated for energy expansion through safe and responsible resource development, and has supported proactive offshore energy production as part of a comprehensive national energy policy. The coalition provides a discussion and policy platform for offshore energy issues shared by the coastal states and the federal government. The governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are members. For more information, please visit http://ocsgovernors.org/ or http://www.governor.state.nc.us/.