North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has launched a new bipartisan task force focused on promoting economic development and keeping energy costs low.
The task force comes on the heels of the Republican-led state legislature passing, over Stein’s veto, a new law that allows utility giant Duke Energy to increase costs for residential customers, as well as indications that the Trump administration plans to eliminate federal tax credits and other funds for renewable energy projects in North Carolina.
Trump’s new spending plan will threaten tens of thousands of jobs in North Carolina’s solar industry and other clean energy sectors, and could lead to people paying up to 18% more for their power bills, according to Stein. He is hoping his task force can come up with policy solutions to protect them.
“North Carolina is a leader in the clean energy economy and is home to more than 100,000 clean energy jobs,” Stein said. “I am grateful for this task force helping to determine how our state can build on this economic momentum, meet growing energy demands, and ensure electricity is affordable for North Carolinians.”
The task force is another indication of Stein’s dedication to growing North Carolina’s clean energy economy. Since taking office, Gov. Stein has announced $4.9 billion in new investments and more than 15,000 new jobs from clean energy and clean technology companies since taking office.
The North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force, established by Executive Order 23 this August, will be chaired by Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson and Republican Representative Kyle Hall.
“North Carolina is growing fast, and we need to meet a greater need for energy while at the same time lowering people’s utility bills,” Hall said. “This bipartisan task force will find real solutions that continue to foster growth and keep more money in North Carolinians’ wallets.”
