Pat McCrory supports offshore drilling in North Carolina.
At a press conference in Greenville this morning, the Republican gubernatorial nominee said that as governor he would issue an executive order allowing "safe, technologically sound" oil drilling. That would overturn a previous executive order issued by Gov. Jim Hunt.
"Too many of our elected officials simply reject the possibility of offshore drilling with scare tactics," he said, according to a statement issued by his campaign, singling out rival Beverly Perdue, who has said she is "100 percent opposed."
He argued that "deep-sea drilling" 45 miles off the coastline wouldnot be visible from the coast and would generate nearly 1.5 billion barrels of oil as part of an overall plan for energy independence.
"Tourism will not be affected and jobs would be in areas where they are most needed," he said.
He also said he would petition the federal government so the state receives a 37.5 percent share.
Previously: McCrory undecided on offshore drilling.
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Re: McCrory supports offshore drilling
The Manteo area leases which were the subject of the previous Mobil leasing controversy off NC's coast included an area known locally as "The Point" and considered important to offshore fishing here. That's certainly not the only sensitive area subject to impact from drilling or spills here, but it's the example I had immediately in mind. There are any number of easy starting-point references for this item: www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/1998.htm is one. Run a Google search on "The Point" and North Carolina offshore drilling for others.