The NC Utilities Commission (NCUC) is entering the final phase of crafting its Carbon Plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in North Carolina. Duke Energy and all the intervening parties have now completed their submission of proposed plans for the NCUC’s review. The NCUC’s statutory deadline for issuing its plan is December 30. 

This planning process was initiated by bipartisan state legislation (HB 951) negotiated by Gov. Roy Cooper and the NC General Assembly in 2021. It has been underway for the past year. The legislation requires that the NCUC adopt a plan targeting a 70% reduction (from 2005 levels) in state utility carbon emissions by 2030, and reaching carbon-neutral emissions status by 2050. The process has been complicated: see a full review of the history and ongoing process of the plan and the competing proposals now under review.

While the NCUC deliberates, advocacy efforts have returned to asking Governor Roy Cooper to exert his influence in support of sticking by the original stated goals, and doing so via a plan which does not include Duke’s proposed major increase in natural gas infrastructure and consumption. Visit www.fossilfreenc.org, to learn more about a better vision for North Carolina’s energy future and submit comments.