North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says moving closer to drilling offshore of the Carolinas is a step in the right direction.
The Obama administration on Tuesday included tracts off the coast in a draft proposal of areas that could be opened to drilling later this decade.
McCrory chairs the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition consisting of coastal state governors favoring offshore energy development.
McCrory said in a statement that responsible development of gas and oil off the coast will create thousands of jobs and generate billions in tax revenue. He says it will also help the nation move closer to energy independence.
The governors' group wants revenue sharing for coastal states to compensate local communities for infrastructure, environmental protection and other needs generated by the energy industry.
