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RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue's panel studying offshore energy options met for first time Tuesday. Their task is to examine the pros and cons of oil, natural gas and wind energy off of North Carolina's coasts.

“We know from the outset that both opportunity and risk are involved here,” said Willis Whichard, chairman for the Governor's Scientific Advisory Panel on Offshore Energy.

Perdue is looking to experts for help in deciding what to do about offshore energy options in North Carolina. She created the advisory panel to help in the endeavor.

“We'll need information from geologists, marine scientists and others about both the economic opportunities and environmental risks and indeed the economic risk because tourism is involved here, and the fishing industry as well,” Whichard said.

The Minerals Management Service within the U.S. Department of Interior were the first experts to talk to the group. The department is charged with leasing land offshore for exploration. They say if this is something North Carolina is interested in, they should express that interest soon because a five-year plan has already been developed, and that means it will be even longer than that before North Carolina could potentially do anything.

“New areas cannot be added at this stage. Things can be deleted, again narrowing down,” said Jully McQuilliams, with MMS.

A similar study is being done by lawmakers to determine if offshore should be explored. However, Perdue's panel, which is being funded by the Rural Center, will report directly to Perdue with any recommendations on executive actions she can take.

In her executive order creating this panel, Perdue says beyond oil and natural gas exploration, she is interested in a recent study by the University of North Carolina which says there is significant potential for wind energy in the sounds and ocean waters off North Carolina coasts.