Governor McCrory continues to support energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf. The governor spoke after a private meeting where state officials, federal regulators and groups funded by oil and gas companies discussed plans for drilling off the mid-Atlantic coast.
The governor took part in a Q&A session on the topic with Dr. Donald van der Vaart, his energy policy adviser and deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The governor stressed that both environmental protections and revenue sharing are necessary for production to take place. He also noted the economic benefits from the drilling for the mid-Atlantic states.
Earlier, environmentalists sought to be allowed into the meeting. Van der Vaart said the event was by closed at the request of the federal officials, saying that the inclusion of special interest groups and industry could present a conflict of interest. The Associated Press noted that the agenda included at least three speakers from private groups funded by ExxonMobile, BP, Halliburton and others.
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