OPINION:
North Carolina’s coastal communities welcome millions of visitors each year to enjoy its recreational activities and charming beaches and villages. However, for coastal residents, including those along the 200 miles that make up the Outer Banks, living on the Eastern Seaboard brings with it significant challenges.
From June through November each year, hurricane season threatens the livelihoods of over one million residents on my state’s coastline. Grappling with beach erosion, flooding, and intense weather systems isn’t a deeply partisan issue. Adaptation to a changing environment is essential to sustaining our local economies and way of life.
In 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina, becoming the costliest storm in the state’s history. Delusively a Category 1 storm, Florence brought with it record rainfall in Eastern North Carolina, taking the lives of 42 residents and ravaging our communities to the tune of $24 billion in damages. I served in the North Carolina General Assembly in the House of Representatives at the time of this disaster.
In Congress, engaging on climate and flooding issues is a chief priority. Each year, I host a summit to bring together scientific and academic experts, community stakeholders, and elected officials to discuss strategies and legislative solutions to tackle waterway challenges. As vice chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, I take pride in advancing a commonsense message on climate issues to the growing body of Americans who are desperate to hear an alternative to extreme proposals.
Being good stewards of our planet does not require radically changing our lives or bearing the burden of exorbitant costs. Coercing individuals into paying higher prices for basic goods or power for their homes will not work nearly three-quarters of consumers will not tolerate it.
We must embrace an all-of-the-above energy approach to meet demand and ensure no communities are left behind. Developing sustainable solutions will not happen by edict, but by innovation. On the Outer Banks, the Coastal Studies Institute, a multi-institutional research and educational partnership led by Eastern Carolina University, is doing tremendous work conducting research examining the possibility of harnessing ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream, and waves to provide clean energy.
If the United States can put a man on the moon, we can build a sustainable future that serves all people. Environmental adaptation and clean energy production are integral to materializing this aspiration, and America’s coastal communities are relying on Congress to be a catalyst for progress.
• Rep. Greg Murphy represents North Carolina’s Third Congressional District. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Committee on House Administration. He co-chairs the House GOP Doctors Caucus and he serves as vice chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus.
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