…across the entire state of North Carolina that have taken the brunt of a number of these storms,” House Majority Leader John Bell, R-Wayne, said Wednesday while introducing the latest iteration of the House efforts, House Bill 500, the Disaster Mitigation and Relief Act of 2021, to the House Environment…
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Flood-resilience study reveals solutions, big challenges
…are doing repetitive damage in vulnerable areas across the state, including places like Kinston, where this past winter’s rains inundated areas also submerged during Hurricane Matthew. With broad agreement between the legislature and the governor’s office to address the problem and a potential surge in federal funding to scale up…
Language from PFAS bills rolled into Senate budget
North Carolina Legislative Building, Raleigh. RALEIGH — An array of provisions aimed at stepping up state monitoring of emerging contaminants have been rolled into the Senate budget plan released this week. They include the creation of a new group within the Department of Environmental Quality charged with investigating emerging contaminants,…
Senate budget includes fisheries studies, ferry funding
Evan Gadow of Three Little Sprats Oyster Co. on Turkey Creek in Onslow County wades out to his 1-acre floating oyster farm lease on the western shore of Permuda Island Reserve in Stump Sound. Photo: Dylan Ray This report has been updated to clarify the boundaries of the shellfish moratorium…
After years of cuts, House eyes boost for Land, Water Fund
North Carolina Legislative Building, Raleigh. As budget plans begin to gel in Raleigh, it’s growing more likely that North Carolina’s Land and Water Fund, a longtime driver of clean water and conservation projects in the state, could receive funding this cycle at levels not seen in more than a decade….
Federal infrastructure deal could mean billions for state
Funding for state ports, such as the N.C. Port of Wilmington shown here, as well as transportation, resiliency and clean water projects are included in the federal infrastructure framework agreement announced earlier this week. Photo: N.C. Ports Authority Updated 3:30 p.m. to include comment from Gov. Roy Cooper. Prospects for…
House budget boosts resilience, but wetlands plan draws ire
An isolated, forested wetland. Photo: North Carolina Division of Water Resources House budget committees rolled out their spending and policy plans Thursday, including large increases in funding for conservation, flood prevention and stormwater infrastructure. But details in the plan, including an abundance of earmarks for local projects and a controversial…
Folks Ready to Talk Change: NC Climatologist
…said the state will have to confront repeated devastation to vulnerable communities and the disparate impact on people who work outside or can’t afford to cool their homes when heat indexes rise. “I think this is going to take a really close look at some of our inequities across our…
House, Senate in budget talks as key differences remain
North Carolina Legislative Building, Raleigh. This story has been updated. House and Senate negotiators are working on a budget deal after the House approved its version 72-41 following 10 hours of floor debate last week. The House plan would spend $25.7 billion this year and $26.7 billion next year. Although…
There’s consensus on resilience, but don’t say ‘climate’
…the biggest effort in the state’s history to meet the challenge of a changing climate. This year, there is broad consensus across party lines and between the legislature and the executive branch to make bold moves in these areas, spending as much as $1 billion in state money and putting…
Governor, legislative leaders in budget talks
The North Carolina Legislative Building. Photo: Mark Hibbs State House and Senate leaders signed off on a new budget plan last week, kicking off the next phase in negotiations with Gov. Roy Cooper and the potential for an agreement that could end years of budget standoffs. House Speaker Tim Moore,…
Energy bill with carbon-reduction goals clears legislature
Duke Energy’s 625-megawatt Sutton natural gas combined-cycle plant in Wilmington came online in 2013 and reduced air emissions compared the 575-megawatt coal plant it replaced. The energy bill would place responsibility for the phaseout schedule for Duke’s remaining coal-fired plants with the N.C. Utilities Commission. Photo: Duke Energy After years…