Senators okay repeal of NC’s hardened structure ban, dismiss buyouts for threatened coastal homes

In North Carolina, a long-standing ban on hardened coastal structures like jetties and seawalls is set to be repealed, a move that could change how coastal erosion is managed. The Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment committee has advanced this legislation, dismissing buyouts for threatened homes in favor of allowing such structures. This shift is significant because it could lead to more aggressive efforts to protect coastal infrastructure from erosion, but it raises questions about the long-term environmental impact and whether it might exacerbate coastal flooding issues.