NC H903

Department of Commerce shall conduct a study of state ports and transportation infrastructure to identify existing assets, current capabilities, and needed investments for cargo, transportation, trade, and offshore wind supply chain industries in North Carolina.

Department of Commerce shall conduct an economic development study evaluating the state's business advantages, workforce readiness, and assets to create a roadmap for attracting offshore wind energy supply chain industries.

Economic development study must consider offshore wind supply chain segments, direct manufacturing job estimates, ancillary economic benefits, industry investment opportunities, rural economic development potential, local tax base benefits, and state economic output contributions.

Department shall submit reports, roadmap, and legislative recommendations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division by March 1, 2020.

$300,000 in nonreverting funds appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce for the 2019-2020 fiscal year to conduct the studies and create the roadmap.