This isn’t the first time we’ve mentioned House Bill 245 – the Energy Freedom Act. And, it won’t be the last. This bill goes above and beyond compared to previous efforts to make renewable energy choice available to the masses. It’s not just for the wealthy. It’s not just for big business. It’s for you, your places of worship, small business, our military bases, our universities, and all in between.

Our friends at the Southern Environmental Law Center put together this clean cut list of why all members in the NC General Assembly, regardless of their political affiliations, should support this bill. It creates choice. It is rooted in equity and access. It taps into conservative and liberal values. Most importantly, it puts our state on the path to a future built on clean, renewable energy. This will bleed over into improving public health, our economies, and the future potential for the next generation of North Carolinians.

The Problem: North Carolina businesses and homeowners are missing out on an opportunity to generate more renewable and affordable energy on their own property.

Solution: Introduce limited market competition for clean energy companies, allowing North Carolina customers to choose the best energy financing solution that the free market has to offer.

This bill:

• Allows Limited Market Competition for Clean Energy: HB 245 would allow North Carolina property owners to purchase electricity directly from a renewable energy company of their choosing. This practice is commonly called “third party sales” of electricity. The company would own, operate and maintain a solar or other clean energy power system installed on the property owner’s roof or property, and the customer pays only for the electricity generated.
• Enables Customer Choice: Our economy thrives on innovation, competition and choice. HB 245 would give customers the option to choose a clean energy company to operate and maintain a solar or other renewable energy system on their property, rather than the customer having to buy a whole system outright. Third party sales of electricity from clean energy companies are allowed in 24 states across the country and are a common choice for customers in those states wanting to generate their own electricity on site.
• Provides Electricity Bill Savings: HB 245 would allow families, businesses, churches, universities, military, local municipalities and non-profits to manage budgets and lower their electricity costs by investing in their own clean energy generation. Contrary to some utility claims, private investment in clean energy generation can lower all ratepayers’ electricity bills by reducing the need for our utilities to build expensive traditional power plants and transmission infrastructure. This can help keep rates low for all North Carolinians.
• Spurs Economic Growth: Clean energy policies keep dollars invested in our own communities, and the third party sales model is attractive to businesses from across the country, including Walmart, Lowe’s, Target, Macy’s, and others. North Carolina is already a national leader in solar energy, and expanding clean energy options would allow us to harness even more of this significant job creation and economic opportunity.
• Leads to Healthier Communities: Private clean energy investment reduces harmful, polluting emissions from traditional power plants – these public health benefits are especially important for those most at risk from exposure to fossil pollution. North Carolinians deserve clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.

What’s next for this bill? Currently, it’s sitting in the House Public Utilities Committee to be heard after recess. Find out who represents you and ask them is they support this bill. If not, ask why? If so, let them know that you, as their constituent, appreciate them putting the interests of North Carolinians first!