The state must develop offshore wind projects to capture the maximum economic opportunity, according a new study conducted by the Southeastern Wind Coalition.
News Briefs
Beaufort schedules meeting on resiliency strategy planning
Beaufort officials are hosting Jan. 27 a virtual meeting to go over the first phase of the “Resilient Beaufort” initiative, a project through the state’s Resilient Coastal Communities Program.
Open house on Wilmington East offshore wind project set
Offshore Wind for North Carolina will display projected images of the Wilmington East offshore wind plan Jan. 28 in the Southport Community Building.
Veterans asked to fill in survey on toxic exposure
The U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is hosting a roundtable on efforts to address toxic exposure at 2 p.m. Wednesday and asking veterans to fill out a survey about their experiences.
NC 12 subcommittee IDs five priority areas on Outer Banks
A subcommittee of the N.C. 12 Task Force has cited five areas of concern for the vulnerable roadway: Ocracoke, Sandy Bay between Frisco and Hatteras Village, Buxton, Avon and the canal zone around the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
EPA to probe alleged discrimination in hog farm permitting
The Environmental Protection Agency says it will investigate the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality over alleged harm to minorities from hog farm operations following a civil rights complaint.
Rain, coastal flooding threatens eastern NC this weekend
A strong low-pressure system is expected to impact eastern North Carolina late this weekend.
Aquaculture permit change to help cultivate finfish species
The state has exempted aquaculture operations from size and possession limits to make it easier for operators to breed more finfish in upland facilities.
UNCW gifts extinct gray whale specimen to Smithsonian
The University of North Carolina Wilmington recently gifted its north Atlantic gray whale specimen to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Former DEQ chief deputy secretary now with EPA Region 4
John Nicholson, formerly with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, now is chief of staff in the Office of the Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 4 in Atlanta.
Coastal Land Trust conserves 766 acres in northeast NC
The Coastal Land Trust has purchased 766 acres of floodplain forest in Bertie and Hertford Counties, which includes 3 miles along the Chowan River and more than 7 miles of Keel Creek.
Judges uphold political maps; appeal expected
The three-judge panel said it couldn’t strike down controversial state election districts, but the outcome could be different in expected appeal to N.C. Supreme Court.
Annual project to remove lost fishing gear underway
The North Carolina Coastal Federation has begun its eighth year collecting lost fishing gear in sounds on the northern and central coast.
Cherry Branch ferry runs remain reduced due to COVID-19
The Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferry route will continue to run on an adjusted schedule through Jan. 17 due to COVID-19 cases and exposures.
New Hanover County commissioners table zoning request
The proposal is opposed by a coalition of nonprofit groups concerned about cultural and natural resources and environmental justice issues.
Webinar on clean water rule’s effect on agriculture set
A virtual meeting is set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to review the effects of former, current and proposed changes to the regulatory definition of Waters of the United States and explore what the changes will mean for farmers and their property.
