Measure would slash
global warming pollution, promote solar power
Raleigh—This afternoon a key House committee held its second debate on the
Clean Energy Act, the legislation cosponsored by nearly a majority of house
members that would require clean, renewable sources of energy and energy
efficiency measures to meet 15 percent of the state’s growing electricity needs
by 2021. Led by Reps. Pricey Harrison,
Grier Martin, Jim Harrell, and Carolyn Justice, 56 house members are sponsors
of HB 77.
“North Carolina has a tremendous opportunity to produce clean,
renewable energy from the sun, wind, and agricultural bi-products,” said
Environment North Carolina State Director Elizabeth Ouzts. “The Clean Energy Act is the first step
towards maximizing the state’s potential for renewable power.”
Sixty percent of the state’s
electricity today comes from burning fossil fuels, a major source of the
pollution that leads to global warming.
A recent state-commission analysis found that a renewable energy
standard could cut that pollution by an estimated 13.6 million tons each year,
while slashing the pollutants that lead to smog, soot, and mercury pollution.
“Today, more than 90 percent of
our electricity comes from dirty, dangerous sources of power,” continued
Ouzts. “With even more coal and nuclear
plants on the state’s horizon, and global warming threatening our children’s
future, the time to implement these solutions is now.”
Clean, homegrown sources of
energy are also a source of new jobs for North Carolinians. From the
creation and installation of technology to capture gases from animal waste, to
building and installing solar panels, experts estimate a renewable energy
standard will create 2700 net new jobs annually. Solar power creates the most new jobs, 90 jobs
per unit of electricity supplied by the resource.
Recent studies have shown
that with more efficient appliances and buildings, the state could
cost-effectively meet up to 14 percent of its projected energy demand. The Clean Energy Act allows up to half of the
standard to be met with energy efficiency measures, such as the widespread
application of energy efficient bulbs or appliances in businesses, schools, or
residences.
A similar measure in the
Senate, S 3, cosponsored by 15 Senators, led by Sen. Charlie Alberston, has
been the subject of negotiations between an array of stakeholders over the past
several months.
