Renewable energy gains ground in state House

Legislation introduced this week in the N.C. House of Representatives would help move the state toward a safer, greener energy future.

The primary sponsor of H.B. 77 -- "Promote Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency -- is Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford), a longtime environmental advocate. The other primary sponsors include Rep. Grier Martin, a Raleigh Democrat.

The bill would mandate adoption of the "environmental portfolio standard" recently recommended to the N.C. Climate Action Plan Advisory Group. Under the proposal, North Carolina's electric utilities would have to get at least 20 percent of their generating capacity from renewable energy sources or energy efficiency by 2022. Renewable sources would include solar, wind, hydropower and biomass, and as much as half of the total amount could be met through energy efficiency measures.

According to information presented to the CAPAG last month, the proposal would result in substantial reductions of greenhouse gases emissions. It could also produce a net savings of $1.8 billion in electricity costs paid for by North Carolina consumers.

In other good news for the state's environment, the N.C. House has created a new committee devoted specifically to addressing energy and energy efficiency.