We are calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to reconsider North Carolina Senate Bill 261, a bill that significantly changes the state’s current clean-energy policy.

In 2021, North Carolina passed a bipartisan law requiring electric utilities to reduce carbon emissions 70% below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. These targets created a clear roadmap for reducing pollution while modernizing the state’s energy system. However, SB 261 removes the 2030 emissions-reduction requirement, leaving only the distant 2050 goal. Without this interim milestone, there is far less accountability for ensuring meaningful progress in the near term.

This change is particularly concerning because North Carolina is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Coastal communities face increasing flooding and rising sea levels, threatening homes, infrastructure, and local economies. The state’s agricultural industry, one of the largest economic sectors in North Carolina, also faces growing risks from extreme weather, shifting rainfall patterns, and heat stress on crops and livestock. Delaying meaningful emissions reductions could worsen these impacts and increase the economic costs borne by communities across the state.

SB 261 also raises concerns about energy affordability and consumer protection. Certain provisions could allow utilities to recover costs for large energy projects while those projects are still under construction. This means that North Carolina residents could begin paying higher electricity rates before new power plants are even operational, shifting financial risk from utilities to ratepayers.

North Carolina’s energy policies should balance affordability, reliability, environmental responsibility, and economic stability. Removing clear emissions targets and increasing financial risk for consumers undermines that balance. Instead of weakening existing climate commitments, lawmakers should pursue policies that maintain strong accountability, support clean-energy development, and protect North Carolina residents from unnecessary costs.

By signing this petition, we urge state leaders to reconsider SB 261 and work toward energy policies that safeguard North Carolina’s environment, economy, and communities for generations to come.