RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Governor Josh Stein signed an executive order Tuesday in an effort to promote and strengthen energy infrastructure in North Carolina.
Executive Order 23 establishes the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force, whose goal is to give advice to policymakers and the governor about managing electricity demand.
“The mission of the Task Force is to advise the governor, the General Assembly, and other state policymakers and to develop recommendations for how to manage increasing electricity demand while maintaining adequate, reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for North Carolina,” the order reads.
In a news release from the governor’s office, one of the biggest goals of the task force is to balance the state’s growth in energy production and demand, with the need to protect the wallets of North Carolina families.
“Despite federal cuts to clean energy and manufacturing tax credits, Governor Stein is charging the task force with determining how the state can remain steadfast in keeping utility costs affordable for North Carolinians, meeting its economic development and environmental protection goals, and managing increasing energy demand,” the release states.
Co-Chair and N.C. Representative Kyle Hall said, “This bipartisan task force will find real solutions that continue to foster growth and keep more money in North Carolinians’ wallets.”
Stein, when speaking about the task force, said he hopes it capitalizes on the Tar Heel State’s growing economy.
“North Carolina is a leader in the clean energy economy and is home to more than 100,000 clean energy jobs,” Stein said. “I am grateful for this task force helping to determine how our state can build on this economic momentum, meet growing energy demands, and ensure electricity is affordable for North Carolinians.”
Co-Chair and Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality, Reid Wilson, said he was proud to be a part of the task force. Wilson also emphasized the need for affordable pricing amidst growth in the state.
“I am proud to co-chair this task force,” Wilson said. “As our growing state’s demand for electricity increases, transitioning to clean energy will help ensure affordable prices for ratepayers.”
The release also included a full list of members on the task force and includes everyone from NCDEQ personnel to Amazon employees.
The list of task force members:
- Reid Wilson – Secretary of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
- Representative Kyle Hall
- Representative Terry Brown
- Senator Michael Lazzara
- Senator Julie Mayfield
- Asher Spiller – Senior Deputy Attorney General, Environmental Division, North Carolina Department of Justice
- Jennifer Mundt – Assistant Secretary for Energy and Infrastructure, North Carolina Department of Commerce
- Chris Ayers – Executive Director, North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff
- Chris Chung – CEO, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
- Mark McIntire – NC Environmental Policy and Affairs Director, Duke Energy
- Winnie Wade – External Affairs Manager, Dominion Energy
- Michael Youth – Vice President, Deputy General Counsel for NC Electric Cooperatives
- Kathy Moyer – Chief Operating Officer, ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc.
- Ray Fakhoury – Energy Policy Manager, Amazon Web Services
- Rachel Wilson – Southeast Energy Market Lead, Google
- Don Stewart – President, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina
- Markus Wilhelm – Founder and CEO, Strata Clean Energy
- Christina Cress – Attorney, Ward and Smith, P.A.
- Matt Abele – Executive Director, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association
- Steve Wall – Senior Research Advisor, North Carolina Collaboratory
- Tim Profeta – Senior Fellow, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Duke University
- Steve Levitas – Independent Energy Policy Consultant
- Will Scott – Southeast Climate and Clean Energy Director, Environmental Defense Fund
- Katharine Kollins – President, Southeastern Wind Coalition
- Dave Rogers – Deputy Director, Beyond Coal, Sierra Club
- David Neal – Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
The task force has been set up against a grim backdrop for the clean energy sector.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act stopped funding coming from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in the form of solar and wind power tax credits.
In addition to those federal cuts, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 266 via veto override, which eliminated the interim date for carbon reduction from certain utility companies, such as Duke Energy.
However, programs like Energy Saver NC have been launched, which provide people in North Carolina with the ability to receive rebates for things like increasing a home’s energy efficiency through the use of certain appliances or home upgrades.
According to the executive order, the task force remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2028, or until the order is repealed, replaced or rescinded.
Nick Bentley
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