The 2024 NC General Assembly has provided yet another blow to reasonable environmental and energy policy. Both legislative chambers have now voted to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of SB 166, which sabotages common-sense efforts to improve energy efficiency standards for new housing construction. 

As Governor Cooper said in his veto message on July 5, “By limiting options for energy efficiency and electric vehicles, [SB 166] prevents North Carolina’s building code from adopting innovations in construction and mobility that save consumers money. This bill also removes subject matter experts from the building code council, including architects, active fire service, a coastal expert, local government officials, and public at large membership, and limits the knowledge and practical experience of the body tasked with ensuring all buildings are safely designed.” 

What Can You Do?

The destructive provisions of SB 166 are now law—but the voters of our state will still have the last word. Go to the polls and vote for legislators and candidates who will put energy efficiency and your pocketbooks ahead of fattening the profits of the developer lobby. Here are some resources to help make the most of your vote:

• See who is on your ballot and plan your vote.
• Know the score by reading our 2023 scorecard.
• See NCLCV’s slate of endorsements in the 2024 election.

If this work is important to you, become a donor today. Even $5 can help elect environmental state leaders and break the supermajority.