Signed by Governor Roy Cooper III

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies North Carolina's energy policies regarding renewable solar and wind energy.

Highlights:

• Requires public utilities that provide electricity to more than 150,000 customers to create a program offering net metering incentives to customers who install solar panels (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits the issuance of permits for wind energy facility expansion unless the facility is determined safe for navigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (Sec. 13).

• Requires major military installations to use at least 100 megawatts of renewable energy per year and requires the University of North Carolina to use at least 250 megawatts of renewable energy per year (Sec. 3).

• Specifies an expedited review process for swine and poultry waste (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that the capacity of all solar energy facilities on a given electrical system shall not exceed 1% of the 5 year average traffic at peak demand (Sec. 6).

• Establishes uniform net metering rates across the state for houses that use renewable energy produced onsite (Sec. 6).

• Prohibits one house or building’s renewable electrical facilities from serving multiple buildings (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes public electric utilities to participate in competitive procurement processes with private third parties (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes community ownership or leasing of certain community solar energy facilities, provided that its energy capacity does not exceed 5 megawatts and its funding does not exceed 100% of the community’s energy demands (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the North Carolina Utilities Commission retains authority over all electric generator facilities (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text