NC governor’s offshore drilling panel meets

RALEIGH, N.C. — A second panel assembled by North Carolina state government is examining the possibilities of tapping into oil and natural gas reserves off the coast.

The Governor’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Offshore Energy meets Tuesday at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Gov. Beverly Perdue formed the committee in September to get advice on the potential to tap into fuels under the Atlantic. Perdue also wants help evaluating wind and sun energy options off the coast and whether drilling could harm the state’s tourist industry and ecology.

State legislative leaders already have formed a committee to study offshore drilling.

Perdue said initially during the 2008 campaign she was opposed to drilling but later said she would be open to it if it’s considered safe.

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