COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina is taking a firm stance against offshore drilling despite a push for it by President Donald Trump.
At the onset of his presidency, Trump revoked an order from Former President Joe Biden, which aimed to halt offshore drilling over 625 million acres. However, Governor Henry McMaster, alongside a bipartisan coalition of legislators, is steadfast in opposing oil and gas drilling off the coast.
“Picture an oil spill happening miles offshore, then accompanied by a hurricane. It would spell disaster for South Carolina. Our beloved coastline might be devastated for years,” stated McMaster.
They said protecting tourism, fisheries, and natural resources are very important.
“Interfering with the ocean floor or any of our water bodies has significant effects on the biodiversity of these habitats. This ultimately impacts human life on land,” said Representative Spencer Wetmore (D – Charleston).
Many environmentalists feared drilling could jeopardize the state’s over $10 billion tourism industry as well as its wildlife.
“This is a critical economic issue for maintaining the industries that bring in billions of dollars to the United States economy every year,” said Grey Gowder from Carolina Ocean Alliance.
“We don’t want to change our part about greatness and our beauty and it’s part of our economy. A third of our economy is tourism, and we want to protect it,” said McMaster.
Mcmaster and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein wrote a letter to the Trump Administration in hopes “to maintain the existing moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production off our coasts.”
Gowder said during Trump’s first administration, McMaster got together with nine other Governors on the east coast across party lines saying they didn’t want to do this, and he expects it will happen again.
