This summer, North Carolina lawmakers voted to boost solar power and other forms of renewable energy, protect our state's natural beauty from the mountains to the coast and ensure the Outer Banks and the rest of North Carolina's coast is protected for future generations.

Clean energy

Grow Solar NC

With twice as much sun as Germany, the world’s solar leader, North Carolina is perfectly positioned for a dramatic increase in solar power production.  Already in the top 10 states in the country for solar power capacity because of the General Assembly’s leadership, North Carolina could get at least 14 percent of its energy from solar power--including solar panels on 700,000 rooftops.  Environment North Carolina: 

• Supports strengthening the state’s solar investment tax incentives so that they can be combined with federal tax incentives.
• Supports reinstating the renewable energy manufacturing tax credit to boost solar energy production and jobs.
• Supports requiring all of the state’s solar requirement to come from in-state sources.
• Supports a “feed-in rate” to boost solar energy production.

RESULT:

• H 1829 reinstated North Carolina's renewable energy manufacturing tax credit.  The bill passed and was signed into law.
  

Global warming

When it comes to global warming, there’s a lot at stake for North Carolina. The science is clearer every day: To avoid the most dangerous effects of global warming, the United States must make deep cuts in pollution, and soon. Environment North Carolina:

 

• Supports making the state's global warming study commission permanent to propose solutions in North Carolina to combat climate change.

RESULT:

• A bill to make permanent the state's global warming study commission stalled in a Senate committee.  The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change is set to expire this year.
  

 

Open Spaces

North Carolina's forests, farmlands and other critical open spaces are disappearing at the rate of 300 acres a day. In 2000, state leaders set a goal of preserving an additional one million acres of our natural areas by 2010, but is only two-thirds of the way there.  Environment North Carolina: 

 

• Supports Governor Perdue’s budget of $50 million for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.
• Supports allocating $2 million to the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
• Supports maintaining the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund at current levels.

RESULT:

• After much negotiation, the Senate and House approved budget allocated $50 million for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and $2 million for the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.  The other trust funds remained at their current levels.  The Governor signed the budget.
  

 

 

Healthy beaches

North Carolina’s beaches are the envy of the nation.  That’s in part because our state has a history of limiting structures like jetties and seawalls on the coast, which protects the ecosystem and prevents unnatural erosion. Until last year, the state’s shores were also protected by a federal moratorium on offshore drilling. Environment North Carolina:

 

• Opposes efforts at the state and federal levels to introduce oil and gas drilling off North Carolina’s coasts.
• Opposes allowing hardened structures that would damage North Carolina’s beaches.

RESULT:

• The Senate attempted again this session to damage NC's beaches by allowing hardened structures, known as terminal groins, along our coast.  The House stood strong and NC's beaches remain protected for another year.
• S 836 protects North Carolina's beaches from potential oil spills by updating coastal management laws, as well as clarifying that there is no cap on liability should an oil company cause an accident off North Carolina's coast.
  

 

Clean Water 

Restoring Falls Lake

Drawing more than 750,000 visitors each year for boating, fishing, and swimming, Falls Lake is the primary drinking water source for Wake County.  In 2005, the General Assembly directed the Environmental Management Commission to develop a plan to restore and protect Falls Lake for the future.  Modeled after the compromise language lawmakers passed last year to protect Jordan Lake, the Falls Lake rules will cut pollution by as much as 70 percent.  Environment North Carolina supports these rules and the rulemaking process taking place this summer.

RESULT:

• No action was taken on the Falls Lake rules this year.  Next session, there will likely be an attempt to overturn the rules.
  

 

Conserving our water resources

In 2008, North Carolina escaped relatively unscathed from one of the most devastating droughts in history. But with more drought predicted for the future and with North Carolina expected to grow by close to three million people over the next 20 years, we cannot afford to continue wasting water. At the same time, we have no permit system to regulate water withdrawals and consumption. Environment North Carolina:

 

• Supports establishing a permit system for large water withdrawals.
• Supports creating a “budget” for water use, and other recommendations of the Water Allocation Study team.

RESULT:

• The passage of H 1743 will help North Carolina develop the scientific information needed to manage water resources wisely.
  

 

Clean Air 

Coal- fired power plants and other industrial boilers release toxic chemicals into the air such as mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, which threaten public health.  In 2009, the Environmental Management Commission closed a 20-year-old loophole that exempted boilers from comply with the state’s air toxic rules.  The Commission’s rules cover only new boilers.  Environment North Carolina:

• Supports the Environmental Management Commission’s rules to close the loophole for industrial boilers.
• Opposes efforts to overturn these rules.

RESULT:

• Fortunately, there were no attempts this session to overturn the Environmental Management Commissions rules around coal fired power plants and industrial boilers.