A Better Way for NC's Energy Future

NC has many options for using energy more efficiently or developing renewable resources - options that will save us money on our utility bills, create new jobs, and protect the environment.  Below are some reasons why NC should pursue a cleaner energy future:

Consumers save money with renewable energy and efficiency:

• A recent study for the NC Utilities Commission found that even a modest 10% renewable and efficiency standard will save consumers a half billion dollars over 20 years and lower average electric bills relative to the business-as-usual model.

Dirty power is expensive.

• Huge costs associated with the building of new coal and nuclear power plants would be better spent investing in energy efficiency and renewable resource programs in the state. A recent cost estimate for Duke Energy’s proposed new coal plant in Cliffside, NC has jumped from $2 billion to $3 billion. This cost will be passed on to ratepayers.
• North Carolina currently spends between $10 to $15 billion per year to import energy resources (oil, coal,natural gas and uranium) for electricity and transportation - $1.6 billion of this is for fuel to generate electricity.

Energy efficiency is cheaper!

• It costs more than 4 cents per kilowatt hour to create electricity in a coal or nuclear plant but only 3 cents per kilowatt hour to finance energy efficiency programs.

Renewables and efficiency are good for our economy. 

• Energy efficiency will strengthen North Carolina's economy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources reduce our dependence on out-of-state and foreign energy imports while keeping jobs and money in the state.
• A recent study for the NC Utilities Commission found that 2,700 more new jobs will be created from renewable energy and efficiency investment than would be created by a business-as-usual model with more coal and nuclear plants.
• Energy efficiency and renewables make economic sense; programs to save energy cost 25% less than generating electricity from coal or nuclear. Efficiency and renewable resources like wind will create more jobs than conventional power, and cut air pollution in North Carolina.

Clean energy reduces pollution.

• Coal-fired power plants are the largest contributor of carbon dioxide pollution which is the main culprit in global warming. Building more polluting power plants is like taking a giant step in the opposite direction of where we need to be going.
• Renewable energy and energy efficiency reduces air pollution and cuts global warming emissions.  A study recently done for the NC Utilities Commission found that a 10% renewable and efficiency standard in NC would cut global warming pollution by over 13 million tons per year – equivalent to carbon dioxide emissions from a whole new coal power plant. 

NC is lagging behind.

• Over 20 states already have a Renewable Energy Portfolio that mandates a percentage of energy come from renewable sources by a certain date and 13 more are pursuing similar legislation. 
• NC ranks at the bottom of the pack (46th) for investments in energy efficiency. States that have invested in energy efficiency have experienced greater economic growth per capita with more efficiency spending than North Carolina.

NC should pass a Renewable and Energy Efficiency Standard.

• North Carolina should require that at least 15% of the state's energy come from renewable sources and energy efficiency programs by 2020.
• Sources of renewable energy could come from a broad range of sources including solar power, wind turbines, bio-mass (like agricultural crop residue), and waste heat.