A bill that would have banned land-based wind farms in most of Eastern North Carolina was one of the victims of a late-session showdown between the state House and Senate. It didn’t pass, but its sponsors say they’ll be back next year.
News & Features
Building Oyster Reefs Without Going to Jail
Members of a Russian environmental group recently visited Carteret and Dare counties. They helped build oyster reefs and restore salt marshes, and government agents didn’t tap their phones, follow them around or threaten them with jail.
Sunset Beach De-Annex Bill Fails to Survive
A controversial bill to remove three properties from Sunset Beach’s town limits couldn’t make it out of a state House committee. Meanwhile, legislators are trying to hammer out yet another bill to weaken rules before they go home for good.
Corps Issues Final Study on Figure Eight Groin
The Army Corps of Engineers has released its final environmental study on Figure Eight Island’s proposed terminal groin project, and island homeowners have applied for a permit to build the structure at Rich Inlet.
North Topsail Asks for Sand Tube Extension
For the second time in less than a year, North Topsail Beach will ask for more time to remove an illegal portion of a sand bag wall it built in 2014 at New River Inlet. Now, the town wants six more years.
Not All Happy With Proposed N.C. 12 Bridge
Holding signs and chanting “Save our Sounds,” a small group of Hatteras Island property owners protested against a projected bridge that they say will hurt property values, livelihoods and lifestyles.
Critics Charge an Ill Wind Blows From Raleigh
Supporters say a bill passed Monday by the state Senate will protect vital military air space from land-based wind farms, while opponents charge it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing and is intended to kill wind energy.
Sunset Beach Votes to Go to Court
The Sunset Beach Town Council voted Tuesday to file a lawsuit against the company planning to build an upscale development on a portion of land that the town says it owns.
Group Gets New Keeper, New Direction
Nicole Triplett has hit the water paddling as the new riverkeeper for the White Oak-New Riverkeeper Alliance, which has remade itself with a new board of directors and a new direction.
Feds: No New Rules to Protect Sturgeon
A public hearing will be held this week in Morehead City on a federal proposal to protect Atlantic sturgeon habitat. The designation of critical habitat won’t require new rules, federal officials say.
Topsail Beach’s Sand Dune Debate
The much-debated dune ordinance Topsail Beach adopted a year ago is once again under review with the town planning board determining how much sand, if any, may be removed from a property in order to build.
Could Seismic Tests Harm Fish?
Opposition to the use of air guns to test for oil and natural gas deposits in the Atlantic Ocean has focused on whales and other marine mammals. Attention now shifts to fish.
Recycling Scrapped, New Rules Capped
The North Carolina Senate approved a measure Monday that eliminates an electronics-recycling program and adds new thresholds and scrutiny for future environmental regulations.
New Day Finally Dawns for Living Shorelines
More natural methods of erosion control should be easier to permit under a new proposal by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Town Shows Off Simple Stormwater Solutions
Oak Island’s efforts to deal with stormwater problems, such as pollution and flooding, were showcased during a recent tour for officials from other towns and members of the public.
A Handy Guide to the State Budget
The state legislature now gets down to the nitty gritty of hammering out a budget. We offer side-by-side comparisons of environmental appropriations and policy in each of the budget proposals.
