In a united front against offshore drilling, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster are staunchly advocating for the continuation of a drilling moratorium along their states' coasts. In a concerted effort to sway the Trump administration, they emphasized the significant risks to their coastal economies and ecosystems. A letter penned by the governors underscored the bipartisan opposition to such drilling activities, citing unanimous resolutions from coastal municipalities against the prospect of offshore oil and gas development. "We ask you to respect the wishes of our states and our coastal communities and reaffirm President Trump’s decision to protect our coastlines and the industries they support," the governors jointly stated, as evidence by a report from the North Carolina Governor's Office.
The Trump administration, back in 2020, had declared the Carolina waters out-of-bounds for drilling until June 2032. With the horizon of that deadline beginning to loom, Stein and McMaster rapidly moved to ensure that the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program would perpetuate to exclude their states from drilling plans. This protection desperately sought by Carolina leaders aims to shield over 500 miles of beaches and a coastline that houses millions, wildlife refuges, and crucial economic drivers from the invasive disruption of drilling.
North and South Carolina's coastlines are more than just picturesque landscapes; they're economic powerhouses. In 2021 alone, they've infused an impressive $9.6 billion into the GDP, bolstered over 125,000 jobs, and lined the pockets of Americans with $3.8 billion in wages. These figures, heralding from industries like tourism, shipbuilding, fishing, and marine transport, showcase the wealth and employment these coastal regions contribute. The governors highlight these facts, arguing that the introduction of offshore drilling could jeopardize the very heart of the Carolina coast's success.
Always a defender of Carolina's natural charm, Governor Stein has consistently stood against threats to the coastline. When the Trump administration first proposed offshore drilling in 2020, then-Attorney General Stein was instrumental in the fight to uphold the coast's sanctity. In the ongoing quest to maintain their shores untainted, the Carolina governors' latest appeal represents not just a plea for environmental preservation but also a stand to safeguard a significant swath of their states' economy. Stein and McMaster are waiting to see if their call for a continued moratorium will effectively keep to secure their coastlines and their communities' futures.
.jpg){kind=link}