Governor Cooper discusses historic environmental grant funding, withdrawal from VP consideration

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Millions of dollars of federal funding will be coming to North Carolina to fight against climate change and protect the state’s natural lands.

Governor Roy Cooper and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan spoke at the Green Swamp Preserve as part of President Biden’s Investing in America initiative.

$421 million will be split between North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, with North Carolina getting $121 million over 5 years.

Reid Wilson is secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

He said this is the largest grant the department has ever received.

Wilson adds that the department will work alongside organizations to make sure funding is being used properly.

“Different organizations are receiving specific allotments of funding, the Nature Conservancy, the Coastal Federation,” Wilson said. “As they go about pursuing their projects, we will be working with them and making sure that they are doing appropriate and extensive community outreach, to make sure that the projects reflect the community needs and input.”

Administrator Regan said this grant also helps disenfranchised communities, a major focus for the Biden Administration.

During the event, Cooper also spoke about his decision made Monday night to bow out of consideration as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential nominee.

“This was not the right time for our state or for me to potentially be on the national ticket and that’s why I’m not doing it,” Cooper said.

Cooper was one of several high-profile Democrats being considered.

Two sources close to the discussion claim Cooper had allegedly expressed concerns about going through the vetting process at the age of 67, with Cooper being the oldest of the rumored candidates for the job.

Cooper said his worries about Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson was another deciding factor.

That was one of the concerns that I had. We believe and constitutional lawyers we have talked to believe that he does not become the acting governor when I leave the state. I know that’s the plain language of the Constitution. But as it has been interpreted by other courts across the country, that really doesn’t make a lot of sense. But we know that when I was in Japan on an economic development tour, he tried to do this.”

When Cooper was in Japan, Robinson declared “North Carolina Solidarity with Israel Week” following Hamas’ attacks on October 7th.

Cooper said in the end, he did not want to be a distraction for the Harris campaign.

“If I were the Vice Presidential candidate, we had concerns that he (Robinson) would try to seize the limelight because there would be a lot if I were vice presidential candidate on him and that would be a real distraction to the Presidential campaign.”

Cooper said he expects Kamala Harris to decide on her running mate by the end of this weekend.

Cooper was also asked about a possible Senate run in 2026 and said all options are on the table, but it’s too early for him to think about that.

On a more light-hearted note, that wasn’t the only topic Cooper spoke about as he was asked about his thoughts on the new Venus Fly Trap license plates.

“They’re remarkable works of nature and the fact that they are only here makes it that more special,” Cooper said. “When you can come here and see them in action, I know that kids think about it and people have seen movies about it. I think that’s exciting and I think having the license plate is just another way to show hey, this is an attraction.”

Venus fly traps can only be found in a 90-mile area around Wilmington, with the Green Swamp being one such place.