Gov. Roy Cooper released his new state budget proposal for the upcoming legislative session last week, and it’s a strong one for environmental protection, natural resources conservation, climate resiliency, clean energy and clean transportation, energy efficiency and weatherization, and North Carolinians’ wallets.
“Gov. Cooper’s budget fulfills his climate goals, creates good clean energy jobs, and saves North Carolinians money on their power bills and at the gas pump, particularly communities of color and underserved areas. We will mobilize our members to fight for this budget at the General Assembly,” said our Executive Director Carrie Clark.
Highlights of the environmental and energy provisions in the governor’s budget include:
- $18 million for more hog farm buyouts in the 100-year floodplain
- $15 million for home weatherization and energy efficiency, covering gaps in federal funding that prevent some of the worst-off homes from accessing funds
- $10 million for clean energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation projects at K-12 schools and community colleges
- $10 million for local government bike and pedestrian projects
Legislators return to Raleigh for their “short session” Wednesday, the day after the primary. They will be tweaking last year’s budget, among other business. Stay tuned to future CIBs to find out how receptive legislators are to Gov. Cooper’s proposals and how you can take action to advocate for them.
