North Carolina lawmakers took a break from budget battles to spend Wednesday overriding a variety of Gov. Roy Cooper's vetos of their bills. Other measures of concern to N.C. Sierrans also saw action towards passage.
The overrides includes H488, Code Council Reorganization and Various Code Amendments. That bill, which now becomes law, would delay for several years the adoption of updates to the energy efficiency section of the state's building code. In his veto message, Cooper noted that the legislation would be expensive for homeowners and renters, and would damage the state's ability to qualify for federal emergency funding.
Lawmakers approved and sent to Cooper a compromise version of S512, Greater Accountability for Boards/Commissions, which would significantly undermine the governor's ability to make appointments to a variety of boards and commissions, including the N.C. Utilities Commission.
Many Sierrans, as well as all five living former governors, voiced opposition to the legislation as a partisan ploy that would permanently tilt governmental power away from any governor toward the General Assembly.
Changes in a House-Senate conference committee including cutting the overall size of the Utilities Commission by lowering the governor's appointments from five to three. The legislature retained its two appointments.
The House gave final approval to S678, Clean Energy/Other Changes, which adds nuclear energy to the state's official definition of clean energy. The bill now goes back to the Senate for approval of House changes.