Our region is suddenly awash in energy-related news.

Here’s a sampling of recent headlines:

• “Obama Opens Eastern Seaboard to Oil Exploration” (AP)
• “Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas Announce $5 Billion Gas Pipeline Project” (Charlotte Business Journal)
•  “Two Tracts Offshore Wilmington Identified For Possible Wind Energy Leases” (Greater Wilmington Business Journal)
•  “Wood Pellet Domes Will Change Wilmington Skyline (Wilmington StarNews)
•  “GE Hitachi's Laser Enrichment Activity Powering Down” (Greater Wilmington Business Journal)
•  “Plan in Works for Solar Farm in Pender County” (Wilmington StarNews)

The United States has seen a massive increase in energy production in recent years. In 2013, domestic production satisfied 84 percent of total U.S. energy needs, which is up dramatically from 69 percent in 2005.

Most of that energy production takes place far from here, but our region is likely to start seeing more activity soon.

As the headlines above suggest, numerous energy-related projects are on the horizon (some literally) – drilling for oil and gas in the Atlantic, onshore and offshore wind farms, exporting wood pellets, uranium enrichment and solar farms.

These projects bring with them economic opportunity as well as environmental and aesthetic concerns.

To help get a handle on the opportunities, risks and timelines for these projects, the Business Journal will host the first-ever Coastal Energy Summit on Oct. 9 so our community can hear directly from the organizations and individuals involved in them.

The event includes:

• A keynote lunch with North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory
• A keynote breakfast with Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute
• A "Coastal Energy Exploration" panel discussion on offshore oil and gas exploration as well as coastal and offshore wind farms
• Perspective on current projects from executives at GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and Strata Solar.

You can see more about the event and register now at CoastalEnergySummit.com.

I hope you can join us to learn more about this important topic.

Rob Kaiser is the publisher of Greater Wilmington Business Journal. He can be reached at (910) 343-8600 x204 or [email protected].