Daily Archives: June 23, 2025
Offshore Wind? Pfft! Construction starts on small modular reactor at Darlington Nuclear site
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has broken ground on the first of four small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington nuclear site, marking a significant milestone in Canada’s clean energy transition and setting the stage for the first operational SMR in the G7. Once complete, the first reactor — a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 — will produce enough reliable, carbon-free electricity to power approximately 300,000 homes. The Darlington New Nuclear Project will eventually include four units, generating a combined 1,200 megawatts (MW) — enough to power 1.2 million homes — and help address the province’s growing electricity needs in the coming decades. Puotos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:47
Coastal communities fear the many ripple effects of a shrimp trawling ban
When traveling east on U.S. 64 – the main highway that connects central N.C. to the Outer Banks – drivers will encounter a billboard encouraging visitors to ask for local seafood. There’s a real possibility, however, that in the not-so-distant future, one of the Outer Banks’ most heralded homegrown products will no longer be available to residents and summertime visitors. “The best shrimp on the East Coast are Pamlico Browns,” said Woody Joyner, President of North Carolina Watermen United (NCWU). “If you can’t shrimp on the sound, and you have to go out on the ocean, you aren’t going to get Pamlico Browns.” Parc Greene, owner of Risky Business Seafood in Hatteras, estimates that 60% of his business is North Carolina shrimp alone. Tilman Gray, who has owned and operated Avon Seafood for 35 years, says that a shrimp trawling ban would cost his business around $200,000 in gross income every year. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:53
Anti-offshore wind groups demand Trump cancel California port grant
Anti-offshore wind activists are seeking return of a $427million federal grant for a deepwater port in northern California. The grant was awarded in early 2024 to repurpose Redwood Marine Terminal in Humboldt County as America’s first floating wind hub. A letter was sent to the US transportation secretary calling for cancellation of the grant. It was signed by the Responsible Energy Adaptation for California’s Transition (React) Alliance, part of the National Offshore Wind Opposition Alliance, and others. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:43
A Call to Action! SHRIMPGATE – We Need Everyone!
We need everyone who cares about North Carolina’s seafood industry to be in Raleigh, Tuesday June 24th by 9:00am, to help the NCFA convince the N.C. House of Representatives to oppose the trawl ban approved by the Senate last week! Below are the addresses for parking and the Legislative Building, where we will be set up with shirts for everyone to wear and talking points to help with conversations. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< Banning shrimp trawling will negatively affect all our commercial fisheries, coastal communities, and families!10:45
Support for solar energy, offshore wind falls among Democrats and independents: poll
Americans’ support for green energy tax credits and renewable energies like wind and solar power has decreased in recent years, according to a new poll, driven by a softening in support from Democrats and independents. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that U.S. adults’ support for tax credits for electric vehicles and solar panels has weakened, as well as their enthusiasm for offshore wind farm expansion. While Democrats remain the strongest supporters of these initiatives, the poll reveals signs of growing cynicism within their ranks. The poll results coincide with sweeping changes President Donald Trump’s Republican administration is making to regulations related to energy and climate change, including slashing the federal workforce in these departments. And although Democrats and independents have weakened their support for some green energy initiatives, there has not been an increase in support for Trump’s energy policies. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:21
Cape Cod lobstermen fear loss of livelihood due to Massachusetts red tape
Cape Cod lobstermen are trying to fend off state and federal regulations that they say could put them out of business in an effort that an attorney describes as a “misguided push for uniformity.” Beginning July 1, lobstermen will face strict rules when harvesting certain female lobsters in state and federal waters around outer Cape Cod, extending from Chatham to Provincetown’s Race Point, including a part of upper Cape Cod Bay. The Outer Cape Lobstermen’s Association, a group of roughly 70 Massachusetts-licensed lobster trap fishers, is fighting back against the state Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, reopening a decades-old federal complaint. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:52
HB 442 and the imperiled future of N.C. shrimping By Morty Gaskill
As many of the readers of this publication are aware, there is currently a bill before the NC House of Representatives, HB442, that would ban shrimp trawling in all inshore waters out to half a mile from the beach. Considering that the vast majority of shrimp in North Carolina are harvested within these areas, if passed, this bill will all but end shrimping within North Carolina waters. In this letter, I intend to explore how and why this bill has made it this far, along with why the logic behind the bill is faulty and as such should not be made into law. HB 442 originally concerned only restoring access to flounder and red snapper. After this bill was passed in March, it moved to the NC Senate for consideration. It was only on Monday last week that an amendment to this bill was added on, which would prohibit all shrimp trawling in the sounds and ocean out to half a mile. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:23
