Photo of the Deepwater Wind offshore wind farm at Block Island in Rhode Island. (Photo by Mark Harrington/Newsday RM via Getty Images) ((Photo by Mark Harrington/Newsday RM via Getty Images))WASHINGTON - The White House is launching a formal partnership with 11 East Coast governors to boost the growing offshore wind industry, a key element of President Joe Biden's plan for climate change.Biden and other top administration officials will meet with governors and labor leaders Thursday at the White House to announce commitments to expand important segments of the offshore industry, including manufacturing facilities, ports and workforce training and development.The partnership comprises governors of both parties from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.Missing from the compact is Virginia, where Republican Gov.
Glenn Youngkin has moved to withdraw the state from a regional carbon-limiting initiative meant to combat climate change. A spokesperson for Youngkin had no immediate comment on the new offshore wind group.In working with states and the private sector, the White House said it will "provide Americans with cleaner and cheaper energy, create good-paying jobs and invest billions in new American energy supply chains,'' including construction of wind turbines, shipbuilding and servicing.Biden has set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, enough to provide electricity to 10 million homes, support 77,000 jobs and spur $12 billion per year in private investment in offshore wind.