By Cassie Gavin
Director of Government Relations
Activity on environmental bills sped up at the NC General Assembly this week. Senators filed several environmentally harmful bills including a proposal to ban wind energy in much of eastern North Carolina and a bill to disallow local governments from using ordinances to protect trees unless expressly approved by the legislature. Meanwhile, two positive bills on energy efficiency and electric vehicles moved forward in the House.
Opportunity for Action:
Please take a moment to ask your Senator to oppose S 377, Military Base Protection Act, an anti-wind bill. This bill may be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee as soon as Wednesday.
S 377 is sponsored by Senators Harry Brown (R-Onslow, Jones), Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus, Union) and Norm Sanderson (R-Craven, Carteret, Pamlico). The measure would ban onshore wind energy development in the areas shaded in red on the map below.
The Amazon East Wind Farm, which began operating in February 2017, stretches across 22,000 acres of Pasquotank and Perquimans counties and is the single largest property taxpayer in each. While the Amazon wind farm would not be affected by S 377, the proposal would prevent other communities from reaping the economic and environmental benefits of wind energy. The bill sponsor has said that his motivation for filing the bill is to protect North Carolina military bases but the Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse exists precisely to provide the oversight necessary to protect any current or anticipated military activities in the United States. There is no need for the state to second-guess the Pentagon’s experts on whether any proposed wind farm would impede military activities.
First the wind, then the trees?
Senate Bill 367, Clarify Property Owners’ Rights, sponsored by Senators Tom McInnis (R-Anson Moore, Richmond, Scotland), Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth), and Brent Jackson (R-Duplin, Johnston, Sampson), would disallow counties and cities from regulating the removal of trees from private property without the express approval by the NC General Assembly. This would limit local government ordinances meant to protect trees and ensure a livable and healthy urban environment. This bill was assigned to the Senate Rules Committee which does not yet have a meeting scheduled.
Good news
In more positive news, bills to increase energy efficiency and help expand electric vehicle charging received unanimous approval by the House Energy Committee this week.
House Bill 330, Efficient Government Buildings & Savings Act, would increase energy efficiency targets for state buildings to a 40% reduction in energy consumption from 2003 levels by 2025 and also improve water conservation in state buildings.
House Bill 329, Exempt EV Stations/Public Utilities Regs, would expand electric vehicle charging opportunities in North Carolina.
These bills will next be considered by the House Rules Committee on Monday.