One of the best ways we can each work to advance clean energy in the United States, North Carolina and in our own community is to tell our representatives we want them to require clean energy solutions, today! You can work with local government to adopt a 100% Clean Energy Resolution and then support them in developing a clean energy action plan. You can call your state and national representatives and ask them to support clean energy legislation.

Below are bills in North Carolina that need support if they are to move forward in our state. Please read through them and if you support these bills, contact your representative and ask them to support them. You can find your state representatives through the NC General Assembly website.

HB767: State Clean Energy Goal for 2050

This bill establishes a state goal that 100% of North Carolina’s electricity be generated by renewable energy resources by December 31, 2050. Requires the State Energy Office, in consultation with the North Carolina Utilities Commission and the Public Staff, to develop a plan to achieve that goal, and to submit its plan to the 2020 Regular Session of the 2019 General Assembly upon its convening.

HB632: Hydraulic Fracturing/Statewide Ban

Prohibits any agency of the State, including the specified entities, from issuing a permit for oil or gas exploration or development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments.

H737: Study Transformative Strategies for North Carolina

(The North Carolina version of the Green New Deal)

With the blessing of members of the national Sunrise Movement, The Canary Coalition (a Coalition Partner of NCCSC) has borrowed the basic platform and language of HR 109 submitted by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the 91 co-sponsors of the legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives this year. This resolution calls for a study commission to be created to determine the necessary steps to transform our energy system, our transportation system and our agricultural system to 100% clean, safe, renewable energy within a 10-year period.  The Primary legislative sponsors for H737 are Representatives Carolyn Logan, John Autry, Zack Hawkins and Verla Insko.  There are currently 17 sponsors and co-sponsors in the NC House.

H513/S338: The Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates Bill

This broadly-supported grassroots initiative spearheaded by our Coalition Partner, The Canary Coalition, has been introduced in four previous sessions of the General Assembly, gradually gaining more recognition and legislative support. In 2017 we had 15 legislative sponsors and co-sponsors. In 2019 we have 20, split evenly between the House and Senate. This bill mandates a system of “inverted, tiered-block” rate structures for electric utilities in North Carolina. Use less energy, pay less per kilowatt/hr. Use more pay more. Similar systems have been very successfully used in other states and nations to dramatically reduce statewide (or nationwide) energy consumption, lower monthly utility bills and create thousands of new, living wage jobs in the fields of energy efficiency and rooftop solar installation and maintenance. The bill also creates an “Energy Efficiency Bank” to issue low-interest loans to ratepayers who want to invest in efficiency and rooftop solar systems.

H512/S339: The We the People Act/Referendum

This is another broadly supported grassroots effort initiated by our Coalition Partner, The Canary Coalition in conjunction with the NC We the People Campaign consisting of 32 endorsing organizations. Again, this bill is gaining momentum from session to session.  In 2017 we had 17 legislative sponsors.  In 2019 there are now 22.  This bill creates a statewide referendum with the following question on the ballot in the 2020 General Election:

[ ] FOR   or    [ ] AGAINST

Urging the United States Congress to amend the Constitution of the United States declaring that constitutional rights belong only to individuals and not to corporations or other artificial entities and that constitutionally protected free speech excludes the unlimited spending of money on political campaign contributions.

If this measure passes, North Carolina will become the 20th state to petition Congress for this new US Constitutional Amendment.

HB750: Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors

This bill amends GS22B-20, which makes deed restrictions and other agreements prohibiting solar collectors on residential property void and unenforceable. It reduces the restrictions of solar by Home Owner Associations that currently can prohibit residential solar installations that are public-facing or force a home owner to reposition a solar installation.