DURHAM, North Carolina – A bill filed in the NC Senate would eliminate a key carbon reduction goal passed as part of a bipartisan energy bill in 2021. Senate Bill 261, filed March 10, would get rid of the state’s 2030 goal of reducing carbon emissions by 70 percent of 2005 levels. The bill leaves in place the longer-term goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.  

“This bill poses a serious setback to carbon reduction goals that have otherwise enjoyed broad bipartisan support,” said Zach Wallace, policy director at Audubon North Carolina. “Clean energy represents the fastest, most affordable way to cut emissions. By removing the 2030 benchmark, lawmakers would be kicking the can down the road on goals set less than four years ago.” 

“The stakes are high for birds. Without fast action to reduce emissions, more than 200 bird species are at risk in North Carolina, with many potentially being pushed out or wiped out from the state. That’s why we supported lawmakers when they initially codified these goals, including the built-in timeline flexibility that regulators have already allotted to Duke Energy. Why change course now?” 

Another component of the bill would allow Duke Energy to charge customers for the cost of construction of new power plants, outside of the established ratemaking process, before the facility is completed and providing power. This shifts the risk of energy development away from the utility and its investors and on to rate payers, who don’t have a choice in their electricity provider. 

The bill was filed in the Senate on March 10 and passed the Agriculture, Energy and Environment committee today.