The federal proposal to allow offshore drilling 50 miles off the coast of North Carolina has ruffled a lot of feathers both locally and nationally, but 50 miles is not close enough for Governor Pat McCrory.
McCrory told the House of Representatives yesterday that the 50 mile buffer zone is too large and drilling should be allowed 20 miles closer to the beach.
McCrory criticized the buffer zone as putting too much of the offshore resources “under lock and key.” [...]
“North Carolina’s coastal and ocean activities would be undisturbed and the viewshed from any of our 320 miles of ocean beaches and shoreline would remain unobstructed with buffer reduction to 30 miles,” he wrote.
McCrory's advocacy for drilling puts him at odds with virtually the entire coast of North Carolina. 16 coastal cities have passed resolutions opposing offshore drilling according to ThinkProgress and even the local Chamber of Commerce opposes the idea.
Maybe they shouldn't have voted for him.