Blowing Through the Barriers of Offshore Wind: Leveraging States' Authority to Ensure Energy Justice in Offshore Wind Development

Energy demand is ever-growing, as is the United States' reliance on sources that significantly contribute to climate change, air pollution, and water pollution. 1 The current administration, however, is focusing its efforts on revitalizing coal, 2 creating a "war on wind power," 3 and achieving energy dominance through exportation. 4 All the while, the administration fails to consider and resolve the equity and justice issues inherent to the energy sector.Without the federal government's support, states are left to address the real concerns that face our domestic energy system today and to ensure national energy justice.This paper argues that North Carolina should encourage offshore wind production while further incorporating equity in the energy scheme.Specifically, this paper proposes that: (1) North Carolina's * Indya Woodfolk is a 2025 J.D. candidate at Duke University School of Law and the Managing Editor for the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum