Flooding farmland is a potential tool for improving resilience to coastal riverine flooding, according to a recent study. Photo: North Carolina Policy Collaboratory Hurricane season ceased to be theoretical in eastern North Carolina coast early last week, with rip tide warnings issued for northern beaches as Tropical Storm Bill formed…
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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
North Carolina State Climatologist Kathie Dello started the job July 9, 2019. Photo: Marc Hall/NCSU This is the sixth installment in a continuing series on climate change and the North Carolina coast that is part of the Pulitzer Center’s nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative. RALEIGH — It was not the kind…
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’
Trenton is flooded in the wake of Hurricane Florence in September 2018. Photo: Staff Sgt. Herschel Talley/Nebraska National Guard If even half of the funding and policy changes in the pursuit of resiliency, flood mitigation and land conservation make it through the budget process, it would be far and away…
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…
Redistricting votes expected
A proposed state House redistricting plan introduced Thursday is set to be heard at 2 p.m. Monday by the chamber’s redistricting committee. Map: NCGA Legislators are expected to begin voting on new congressional and state legislative districts next week. Mapmaking for the new districts is drawing to a close after…