NC lawmakers have much to learn about pregnancy, abortion

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NC lawmakers, get facts on abortion

All members of the N.C. General Assembly should attend mandatory classes on reproduction, contraception, fetal development and pregnancy risks.

They would learn:

▪ pregnancy is far more dangerous than abortion,

▪ a fetus does not have a heartbeat at 6 weeks,

▪ abortion medication is used to treat ectopic pregnancy,

▪ and, carrying a child to term is particularly dangerous for teens.

It is critical for them to understand the medical impact of unscientific, punitive laws.

In Duke Today, Dr. Beverly Gray addresses the quandary of deciding when a doctor may intervene to save a mother’s life without committing a felony. Do you need one organ failing? Two? Do you need to be bleeding? Require a transfusion?

Recently, a family member nearly died due to an ectopic pregnancy, putting her at higher risk for another. If caught early enough, abortion medication could prevent another catastrophe, but she may need IVF, a procedure that might not be possible if the rights of embryos are privileged over those of women.

As a teenager in the early 1970s, I worked in my father’s Huntsville, Ala. OB-GYN office, where I saw girls as young as 12 brought in for abortions. Clearly victims of rape or incest, they were neither physically nor emotionally prepared for motherhood.

There is already a shortage of reproductive health care in rural areas. Outlawing abortion would mean fewer doctors choosing to be OB-GYNs. It’s one of the lower paid medical specialties, demands long hours, and requires very costly malpractice insurance. Obstetricians would be reluctant to practice in a state where laws prevent them from providing comprehensive care. Adding the threat of a felony conviction would be disastrous to all in N.C. who can bear children.

Educating oneself is a fundamental responsibility of policy makers. Our legislators desperately need accurate information.

Elizabeth Dunn, Durham

NC must seize the day on wind power

The writer is president of the Southeastern Wind Coalition.

When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed this month, North Carolina won the lottery, giving us 369 billion reasons to be optimistic about the good that can be achieved with those dollars. Offshore wind was a clear winner, strengthening our state’s shot at thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in manufacturing, construction and other economic investments.

But those dollars won’t magically appear unless N.C. government leaders plan now to secure funds for programs and projects that will maximize N.C.’s share of the benefits. Our state may be a strong leader in clean energy, but other states are taking concrete steps to attract manufacturers who’ll bring well-paying jobs and economic benefits with them.

To keep up, we need the N.C. Utilities Commission to approve a strong Carbon Plan that reflects the realities of our true offshore wind potential and help meet our climate goals.

This historic package is a game-changer. The cherry on top was the provision that lifted a previous offshore wind leasing moratorium. North Carolina can now forge ahead to compete for a hefty share of the $109 billion offshore wind industry. We were already well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity due to our strong manufacturing workforce, deep water ports, and robust supply chain industry. Lifting the moratorium unlocks the state’s economic potential.

Providing a stable policy environment allows N.C. businesses to better predict demand and make sound investment decisions, that will allow them to create family-sustaining wages in parts of the state that don’t have as many job opportunities.

North Carolina is already home to manufacturing facilities that make fiberglass fabric for blades (in Huntersville), steel plates for wind turbine towers (Hertford County), and transmission cables (Tarboro). Lifting the moratorium, a strong NC Carbon Plan, Inflation Reduction Act funds, and Gov. Cooper’s commitment to build offshore wind by 2040 are a winning combination for these businesses. It will set N.C. on a direct path to a future where clean wind energy powers our homes, creates jobs and grows local economies.

Katharine Kollins, Chapel Hill