North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s Energy Policy Task Force released its interim report last month, with a set of nine recommendations for ensuring that North Carolinians have affordable, reliable, and clean energy supplies as demand for energy skyrockets in the state.
The current rise in home insurance rates places a heavy cost burden on a significant portion of Black households compared to other communities. According to data from Zillow, 19% of Black households nationwide are cost-burdened, compared to 12% of white households, 17% of Hispanic households, and 18% of Asian households.
Seventy of North Carolina’s seventy-eight rural counties are considered medical deserts due to a shortage of primary care providers. And while 33% of the state’s population lives in rural areas, only 12% of physicians in the state practice there. Twenty counties in the state don’t have a single pediatrician, while another twenty don’t have a hospital.
Energy Saver NC, which has $208 million of funding through 2031, provides two types of rebates to eligible households.
Two newly released polls paint a stark picture of the rising concerns from North Carolinians around the U.S. economy and Trump’s tariffs.
Advocates say The Cost We Carry Storybook is meant to force lawmakers to confront the human cost of their inaction. As Johnson put it, “This report is about making sure our state lawmakers hear directly from hard-working North Carolinians — and start serving people, not greedy corporations.”
With utilities giant Duke Energy demanding yet another rate hike despite making billions in profits, it’s worth noting that there are other electricity providers in North Carolina. In fact, there are 26 not-for-profit electric cooperatives providing electricity to 2.8 million North Carolinians across 93 counties in the state.
Since ACA tax credits expired at the beginning of the year, North Carolina has seen a 22% drop in enrollment in the healthcare marketplace, and premiums have increased by a whopping 114%.
“North Carolina’s secret is out,” said Governor Josh Stein in a statement. “Our strong economic growth, natural beauty, and good people are attracting others from around the country.”
As the delay continues, schools are left deciding which services, programs, and staff members they can afford to keep. Across the state, teachers and other state employees are also dealing with rising bills and ever-increasing health insurance plans, with some seeing their monthly premiums nearly triple. With no budget to deliver much-needed raises, this amounts to a pay cut for many.