The NC General Assembly returns to Raleigh this week for a continuation of its 2025 session, which has yet to produce a state budget despite the fact that the fiscal year began nearly a month ago. First up on the legislators’ agenda, however, comes a series of votes on whether to override or uphold legislative vetoes by Gov. Josh Stein. The NC Senate will hold a series of override votes beginning Tuesday, July 29.
Vetoed Bills Up for Override Votes
The vetoed bills include several of concern to environmental and voting rights advocates. They include HB 402, which makes it easier for the pro-polluter current leadership of the legislature to block state rules on environmental and other matters. They also include SB 416, which makes it easier for corporate “dark money” sources to hide funds that they’re channeling into state campaigns.
The highest-profile bill of great concern to advocates of clean energy and action on the climate crisis is undoubtedly SB 266, officially and misleadingly titled “Power Bill Reduction Act” but better known to many of us as Duke’s Dirty Energy Bill.
SB 266: Duke’s Dirty Energy Bill
In his veto message on SB 266, Governor Josh Stein said, “This summer’s record heat and soaring utility bills has shown that we need to focus on lowering electricity costs for working families — not raising them. And as our state continues to grow, we need to diversify our energy portfolio so that we are not overly reliant on natural gas and its volatile fuel markets. Recent independent analysis of Senate Bill 266 shows that this bill could cost North Carolina ratepayers up to $23 billion by 2050 due to higher fuel costs.
“This bill not only makes everyone’s utility bills more expensive, but it also shifts the cost of electricity from large industrial users onto the backs of regular people – families will pay more so that industry pays less. Additionally, this bill walks back our state’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions, sending the wrong signal to businesses that want to be a part of our clean energy economy. My job is to do everything in my power to lower costs and grow the economy. This bill fails that test.”
Sustaining the Veto Would Save Us Money
“Governor Stein continues to stand up for hardworking North Carolinians against Duke Energy’s greed. Senate Bill 266 would have raised residential energy bills, put ratepayers on the hook for Duke’s expansion, and gutted a key state climate goal—cutting carbon emissions 70% by 2030. An independent study found removing this target goal would cost ratepayers an additional $23 billion by 2050,” said Dan Crawford, NCLCV’s Director of Governmental Relations, in applauding the veto.
“North Carolinians deserve both low energy costs and clean energy. Don’t believe the lie that we have to choose between the two. That’s a scam pushed by wealthy utilities to protect their profits at the expense of our communities. The truth is clean energy is the cheapest, fastest way to add power to our grid. Duke just doesn’t make as much money from it.”
Take Action Now
The future of clean energy and climate action in North Carolina is on the line in the General Assembly this week. You can take action today to support Gov. Stein’s veto of SB 266, Duke’s Dirty Energy Bill.
