North Carolina Lawmakers Override Governor’s Veto of Utility Rate Hike Bill 

RALEIGH, NC -- State lawmakers voted today to override the veto of a bill that would derail North Carolina’s growing clean energy economy and raise utility costs for Duke Energy customers. 

Both the House and Senate voted to override Governor Josh Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 266 which would abandon Duke Energy’s interim carbon reduction goals and added “Construction Work In Progress” fees to utility bills. Independent analysis of the bill, conducted by BW Research, estimates the changes will cost taxpayers $23 billion and a loss of 304,200 jobs in the state’s power sector by 2050. 

Following is a statement from Drew Ball, southeast campaigns director for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):  

“Senate Bill 266 is a handout to a corporate monopoly disguised as reform, and North Carolinians will foot the bill. Duke Energy profits and residents pay the price through higher bills, lost jobs, and missed investment in better alternatives. Instead of building affordable, reliable clean energy, this bill pushes outdated, expensive gas plants that deepen our dependence on a dirty and fragile fuel supply.” 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).