ON THIS PAGE:
- Talking Points for S2051, Energy Independence Act
- S. 2051, Energy Independence Act Details
Talking Points for S2051, Energy Independence Act
S.2051 establishes North Carolina as the Southeast’s leader in biofuels and energy efficiency. The Southeast is the most energy inefficient region in the United States! In response to concerns of the monopoly regulated electric utilities, the bill has already been revised. The utilities have no further reason to oppose S2051, NC Energy Independence Act.
Share these talking points along with your own thoughts when you call, write or e-mail your legislator in support of S.2051:
- Reduces our dependence on out-of-state and foreign energy imports (oil, coal, natural gas and uranium), which cost North Carolina between $10 billion and $15 billion per year.
- NC ranks 46th in the United States on expenditures on energy efficiency as a percent of utility revenues, we can do much better!
- Provides millions of dollars in energy savings to consumers and state and municipal government
- Saves industrial, manufacturing, and other industries money on fuel costs.
- Creates more jobs in more counties and is cheaper than building new coal or nuclear plants.
- Strengthens rural communities and their economies, helping to preserve our land and heritage.
- Our electric utilities stopped providing critical energy efficiency services to government and industry in the late 1990’s, this bill enables the private sector to provide more of these services and create jobs.
- The average NC home uses 37% more electricity than the average American home. This bill provides incentives to reduce your home energy use, save you money and improve your quality of life.
- Money saved by weatherizing low-income homes will circulate 3-times more through a community.
- Creates innovative jobs and economic growth opportunities in rural and urban counties.
- Keeps money circulating through communities, instead of leaving our state to buy more fuel.
More energy efficient U.S. states in the Southeast and nationwide have experienced greater economic growth per capita with more efficiency spending than N.C.!
For more information click here to visit the NC Sustainable Energy Association's website.
S. 2051, Energy Independence Act
Improves energy efficiency in transportation, state government buildings, and residential housing.
Transportation:
- Requires the state to reduce petroleum use in state vehicles by 20% by 2010 by expanding the use of hybrids and alt fuels in state vehicles. Allows the state to tap federal funds to meet this requirement.
- Creates a tax credit that will lower the price of alternative fuels at the pump.
- Gives a $2000 tax credit for the purchase or lease of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles.
- Creates a fund to encourage the use, purchase, availability of hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles and to reduce diesel pollution. The funding mechanism is a surcharge on annual motor vehicle registration fees, with the highest surcharge on vehicles which consume the most gas.
State government buildings:
- Reduces energy and water use in state and local government facilities, including universities, through self-funded energy projects.
- Requires all state energy departments, agencies and institutions receiving State capital funds for large projects to reduce their energy purchases by 20% by 2015.
Consumers:
- Provides tax credits for the building or manufacturing of energy efficient homes and energy efficient improvements of existing homes.
- Clarifies the duties and responsibilities of DHHS’s Office of Economic Opportunity in implementing all energy related assistance programs for low income persons.
Appropriations:
- $500,000 for the implementation of government energy savings provisions of this Act.
Note: there will likely be a committee substitute for the bill that will direct a study on appliance standards, the Pay as You Save Program, and the feasibility of establishing an energy efficiency technician curriculum in community colleges
Click here to go to the NC General Assembly's website and view the full text of the bill.
