Who pays the bill? | NC lawmakers override energy bill veto, sparking debate over Duke Energy rate impacts (WCNC)
The North Carolina General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto this week, enacting Senate Bill 266 that eliminates Duke Energy’s requirement to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030.
The new law makes two major changes to Duke Energy’s regulatory framework. It removes the carbon reduction mandate, with the utility not required to set another emissions goal until 2050. The legislation also allows Duke Energy to charge consumers for building new power plants before construction is completed.
“That price can go up, it can go down, but over time, it’s trending upwards,” Executive director of Sustain Charlotte, Shannon Binns, who expressed concerns about both climate and consumer impacts said.