A New Article Suggests Corporate Interests Are Blocking Clean Energy Efforts
Polls show even conservatives increasingly support the development of clean, renewable energy in North Carolina. This begs the question: Why is the “conservative”-led N.C. General Assembly now blocking new efforts to develop clean energy, and rolling back progress that has already been made?
A new article by environmental reporter Elizabeth Outz for the Energy News Network explores how “Special interest groups, far-right misinformation, and entrenched individual lawmakers are among the barriers facing clean energy policy in this purple state.”
The article features comments from leaders of the group Conservatives for Clean Energy and other clean energy advocates.
“Polling consistently shows overwhelming public support statewide — in every community and across political ideologies — for more clean energy and for freer energy markets,” Carson Butts, the director of Conservatives for Clean Energy North Carolina, said in an email. But, he acknowledged, “clearly, we have more work to do.”
North Carolinians’ Interests
NC League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) polling confirms these conclusions. The polling shows a large majority of North Carolina voters (75%) say it is important for the state to increase its use of clean and renewable energy sources and reduce its use of fossil fuels (62%). Additionally, two in three voters (67%) want North Carolina to speed up the transition to clean and renewable energy.
Additionally, the poll shows important data about climate change. Over half of North Carolinians recognize the rise of extreme weather events (59%) and the link to climate change (53%).
NCLCV Director of Governmental Relations Dan Crawford confirms there are conservative leaders in the NC House trying to move clean energy forward, only to be blocked by pro-polluter leaders on the NC Senate side. Stay tuned to see our analysis in the upcoming 2023 Scorecard and read past scorecards here. Additionally, see the Conservation PAC for recommendations on legislators and candidates in the 2024 state legislative elections.
