NCLCV Releases Latest Legislative Environmental Scorecards
As 2025 comes to a close, NCLCV has released a double dose of its environmental scorecards rating the votes and actions of state lawmakers and the governor. The unusual release of two years of voting records at the same time results from the unprecedented decision by pro-polluter legislators to keep the General Assembly in session essentially the entire two-year period.
2024 Scorecard
The 2024 “short” session was extended until after the election, which enabled the legislature to enact changes before losing super majority powers due to election losses. The legislature stripped then newly elected Governor Josh Stein of powers traditionally assigned to the Governor and gave them to the Treasurer and Auditor, positions now held by Republicans. They did all of this under the guise of a Hurricane Helene recovery bill.
Read more in the full 2024 scorecard.
2025 Scorecard
The 2025 scorecard covers this year’s long session, though the session is still not completed. The Republican majority failed to pass a budget, making us the only state in the country without one. Instead, the legislature met in October and passed a new gerrymandered Congressional redistricting map at the request of Donald Trump that disenfranchises Black voters in eastern North Carolina. Additionally, they passed and then overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto to enact the Duke Energy giveaway (SB266), which rolled back an interim carbon reduction target and allowed Duke to bill ratepayers for new dirty methane gas power plants while they are still being built.
“The pro-polluter, anti-democracy majority in Raleigh has made it very clear whose side they are on the past two years with regular assaults on our environment and democracy,” said Dan Crawford, NCLCV’s senior director of public affairs. “Again and again, they chose to side with polluters and corporate interests, instead of acting in the public’s best interest. Again and again, they worked to protect themselves and their power, rather than serving the people of North Carolina. This year, they haven’t even managed to complete their most basic responsibility by passing a budget. Instead, they have been busy rewarding greedy corporations like Duke Energy and disenfranchising voters to avoid accountability. This scorecard makes that very clear.”
Read more in the full 2025 scorecard.
Use Your Power
The scorecard allows voters to evaluate how their representatives voted on pressing environmental and democracy issues. “We believe the most important thing you can do for the environment is vote. And it is more important than ever for voters to elect environmental and democracy champions in the 2026 elections,” said Carrie Clark, NCLCV executive director. “We urge voters to use this scorecard to hold legislators accountable for their votes.”
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