Dive Summary:
- After a similar bill died in the House last week, the North Carolina Senate finance committee has recommended legislation aimed at ending renewable energy requirements in the state.
- The current law, passed in 2007, requires investor-owned utilities to have renewable energy sources comprise 12.5% of their electricity sales by 2021.
- The Senate bill proposes to end the renewable requirement in 10 years, keeping the mandate at 3% until then.
From the article:
"... Clean energy groups argue the law has made North Carolina an emerging market for solar, wind and methane gas production, created jobs and will ultimately save utility ratepayers money. The speakers at Wednesday's meeting, including some hog producers who are turning waste into fuel, urged lawmakers to leave the 2007 law alone because millions of dollars have been invested in energy projects.
But Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie and the bill sponsor, said the alternative energy industry should be weaned off its favored treatment from the government to produce what is relatively expensive energy. The 2007 law allows utilities, which are regulated by the state, to pass along part of the cost of complying with the law to home and industrial customers on their power bills. ..."