Two Mecklenburg Democrats join Republicans to override veto of controversial energy bill (WFAE)
The state legislature has overridden Gov. Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 266 with the support of two Mecklenburg County Democrats. The bill eliminates a key climate target for the state and Duke Energy.
Democratic Reps. Nasif Majeed and Carla Cunningham were two of three Democrats who joined Republicans to override the veto, along with Rep. Shelly Willingham of eastern North Carolina.
Following the vote, Shannon Bins, executive director of nonprofit Sustain Charlotte, released the following statement:
“It’s hard to imagine a more out-of-touch decision than eliminating Duke Energy’s interim carbon reduction goal during a week when North Carolina is enduring a brutal heat wave — with temperatures averaging ten degrees above normal. This vote releases Duke from any legal obligation to reduce climate pollution until 2050, despite overwhelming scientific consensus that we must act much sooner. It’s not only unethical, given the suffering this will cause for untold North Carolinians now and for generations to come, but it’s also foolish. Continuing to double down on fossil fuels — even as we see more deadly wildfires, rising sea levels, and flooding from storms like Hurricane Helene — isn’t just irresponsible. It’s self-destructive. And the people who will bear the greatest costs are our children and grandchildren.”