Stand Up for North Carolina Renewable Energy
North Carolina currently has a renewable portfolio standard (REPS) that calls on the state’s utility companies to secure a growing percentage of their electricity from renewable resources. The specific target that they are working toward is 12.5% by 2021.
North Carolina already has significant investment in wind – with 24 companies in the manufacturing supply chain in the state, supporting nearly 2,000 wind manufacturing related jobs, including jobs in operations and maintenance, construction, manufacturing and many support sectors. Wind developers are ready to invest millions more in wind projects, bringing even more jobs, tax payments, and landowner lease payments to the North Carolina economy. Additionally, the REPS has actually helped lower utility bills in North Carolina.
The North Carolina state legislature has introduced a bill that threatens the state’s REPS policy. SB 365 proposes to freeze the REPS at 3% and totally eliminate it in 2023. There is no need to slow down the progress that the REPS has made. Preserving the state’s REPS will ensure that jobs and investment will continue to develop in North Carolina, rather than in other states.
If you would like to read a copy of the bill, you can do so here.
Please contact your state-level elected officials today. Start by entering your zip code below. Tell them that the state REPS policy is driving jobs and economic development, along with affordable power from renewable energy sources in North Carolina, and you do not want to see that progress derailed. We have created a template email for you, but encourage you to personalize it, as your unique words will have a more lasting impact on your legislator.
