Energy News

Charlotte, NC- -President Obama’s clean energy plan would save North Carolina households  $373 each year and create 16,800 sustainable jobs statewide over the next twenty years, according to a new report released today by Environment North Carolina and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.  The report, Energy Efficiency in the American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009: Impacts of Current Provisions and Opportunities to Enhance the Legislation, showed that North Carolina stands to gain more jobs than 40 other states if the bill becomes law.

 “It’s time to harness the power of American ingenuity to put thousands of people back to work and save businesses and consumers money on their energy bills every year in North Carolina,” said Bob Thomason of Argand Energy.  

“Energy efficiency is the cleanest, quickest, cheapest way of reducing our energy use and pollution,” said Kassidee Fisher, Environment North Carolina field associate.  “These common sense solutions will put cash back in our pockets and protect the future of our planet.”

The report also found that energy efficiency policies from the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), which passed the House of Representatives in June, would create 10,900 new jobs, save the average household $207 a year, and reduce annual carbon emissions by 8.9 tons in North Carolina by 2020.

“Alternative energy technology is ready to go in real time, but needs strong legislation that will ensure it is put to use, and that we use today's technology to create a stronger, more prosperous tomorrow, in which we can put North Carolinians back to work," said Ernie McLaney of Central Piedmont Community College’s Center for Sustainability.

“Senator Hagan should lead the fight for common sense energy efficiency policies and jumpstart the transition to a clean energy economy by supporting the President’s clean energy plan,” concluded Fisher.

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Environment North Carolina, www.environmentnorthcarolina.org, is a statewide, citizen-funded environmental organization working for clean air, clean water, and open spaces.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient America (ACEEE) is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For more information, see http://www.aceee.org.