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Renewable energy will reduce global warming pollution and create jobs in North Carolina.
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Led by Reps. Pricey Harrison, Jim Harrell, Grier Martin and Carolyn Justice, along with Sen. Charlie Albertson, nearly 70 state lawmakers have co-sponsored bills this spring to increase in-state production of renewable energy and increase energy conservation.
“North Carolina has the know-how and the natural resources to produce clean, alternative energy from homegrown farm fuels, wind and solar power,” said Environment North Carolina’s Elizabeth Ouzts.
“We have the technology to build factories, offices, schools and homes that use much less energy than they do today. The Renewable Energy and Efficiency Standard represents a critical first step toward maximizing the state’s potential for local renewable energy sources.”
The measure, already enacted in more than 22 other states, would require electric power suppliers to cut back on energy production through energy-saving measures, and to produce more of their electricity from wind turbines, solar panels, agricultural by-products and other clean, renewable sources.
Clean air
Coal-fired power plants are a major source of the pollution that leads to global warming. A renewable energy standard would cut that pollution by an estimated 13.2 million tons each year, according to a study commissioned by state utility officials. Even with the state’s landmark Clean Smokestacks law, pollution from coal-fired power plants continues to make people sick and cause premature death. The renewable energy standard will help reduce health-threatening smog and soot pollution.
Clean jobs
Clean, homegrown sources of energy are an important source of new jobs. From the creation and deployment of technology to capture gases from animal waste to building and installing solar panels, experts estimate a renewable energy standard will result in the net creation of 2,700 new jobs every year. Solar power is estimated to create the most new jobs.
According to recent Environment North Carolina research, the state’s growing energy demands can be met with measures like energy conservation and the production of clean energy, without building new dirty coal-fired power plants like Captions should include page number i.e. those proposed in both Rutherford and Buncombe counties.
“With polluting coal and nuclear power plants on the state’s horizon, and global warming threatening our children’s future, the time to implement clean energy solutions is now,” said Ouzts.
Environment North Carolina is calling on lawmakers in both chambers to approve a renewable energy standard that will require utilities to cut energy production and derive at least 10 percent of their electricity sales from clean, renewable sources. |
