Areva says it is relocating its North American headquarters from Bethesda, Md., to Charlotte, N.C. The company will also add 130 positions over the next four years.
These new positions include additional professional engineers that will join Areva's operations center in Charlotte.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory hinted that Areva's move may be related to its intent to expand into the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry. However, Areva did not confirm those statements, and the company is active in many sectors, including nuclear power.
"This announcement helps shine a spotlight on our skilled workforce and strong business climate," McCrory says. "We're also very supportive of Areva's position in the renewable energy market, which is something this administration is very interested in expanding."
Areva opened its Charlotte offices in 2002 and has grown to employ more than 300 licensed professional engineers, who provide planning, design and construction resources.
