North Carolina: Senate Panel Gives First OK to Renewables, Efficiency Bill


Electrical Commissioning In Industrial Power Systems

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 12 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$599
Coupon Price:
$499
Reserve Your Seat Today
Utility companies would be required to provide a certain amount of retail electricity from renewable energy and power-saving measures under a bill that cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The measure won support from the Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee chaired by its sponsor, Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin. It needs approval from the Senate Finance Committee before it will face a full chamber vote.

The bill orders North Carolina public utilities to provide 12.5 percent of their retail power from renewables and efficiency by the year 2021. Electric co-ops and municipal power companies would have a 10 percent standard.

Utility companies praised the measure — crafted during more than a dozen stakeholder meetings — as a way to guarantee that they will be able to meet growing customer demand while still turning to "greener" power sources.

"We believe this bill is so good because it is a comprehensive policy," said Cari Boyce, spokeswoman for Progress Energy.

But environmental groups were unhappy that the bill retained language that would allow the power companies to recover the cost of building coal and nuclear power plants by charging customers before those plants come on line.

The House may prove less friendly to that section, and opponents will push for its removal when the measure gets to that chamber, said Elizabeth Ouzts, director of Environment North Carolina.

Related News

Energy authority clears TEPCO to restart Niigata nuclear plant

TEPCO Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart plan clears NRA fitness review, anchored by a seven-point safety code, Niigata…
View more

Nine EU countries oppose electricity market reforms as fix for energy price spike

EU Electricity Market Reform Opposition highlights nine states resisting an overhaul of the wholesale power…
View more

Canadian Solar and Tesla contribute to resilient electricity system for Puerto Rico school

SunCrate Solar Microgrid delivers resilient, plug-and-play renewable power to Puerto Rico schools, combining Canadian Solar…
View more

Ontario Drops Starlink Deal, Eyes Energy Independence

Ontario Starlink Contract Cancellation underscores rising tariffs, trade tensions, and retaliation, as SpaceX's Elon Musk…
View more

Class-action lawsuit: Hydro-Québec overcharged customers up to $1.2B

Hydro-QuE9bec Class-Action Lawsuit alleges overbilling and monopoly abuse, citing RE9gie de l'E9nergie rate increases, Quebec…
View more

Scientists Built a Genius Device That Generates Electricity 'Out of Thin Air'

Air-gen Protein Nanowire Generator delivers clean energy by harvesting ambient humidity via Geobacter-derived conductive nanowires,…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Download the 2026 Electrical Training Catalog

Explore 50+ live, expert-led electrical training courses –

  • Interactive
  • Flexible
  • CEU-cerified