Govs Get It Done: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper Receives Praise for Clean Energy Proposal

“The governor’s commitment and leadership in this area are to be commended, as are the efforts of the professionals at the state Department of Environmental Quality” – Winston-Salem Journal Editorial Board

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is being praised for his leadership in combating climate change. Last year, Gov. Cooper signed an executive order committing to build a clean energy economy for the state and to reduce the state’s impact on climate change. Now, the Cooper administration has released a draft clean energy plan to fulfill those goals. The plan proposes eliminating greenhouse gases from electricity production by 2050 with a reduction by 50 percent of 2005 levels by 2025 and 60 to 70 percent levels by 2030.
Read more about Gov. Cooper’s leadership on climate change below:
Winston-Salem Journal: Our view: N.C. wisely invests in renewable energy
North Carolina is doing its part to reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change — and respiratory problems, among other ill effects of pollution — thanks to a plan proposed by Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration to increase the electricity produced from renewable energy sources. The governor’s commitment and leadership in this area are to be commended, as are the efforts of the professionals at the state Department of Environmental Quality.
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“We need to reduce emissions by two-thirds by 2030 and to get to zero by 2050,” Will Scott, the energy policy analyst with the NC Conservation Network, said. “An increasing number of states are moving in that direction.
“To remain competitive in the clean energy economy, North Carolina is going to have to have similarly ambitious goals. It’s about competition and opening up the energy marketplace.”
This is the proper direction for a thriving and healthy energy future and it follows up on significant progress made by the state. Greenhouse gas emissions are already 34% lower than 2005 levels, according to DEQ.
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Cooper is one of 25 governors who have stepped up in Trump’s absence, signing on to the U.S. Climate Alliance and committing North Carolina to the goal of reducing greenhouse gases and supporting clean energy. An executive order signed by Cooper last year required the DEQ to devise the plan.
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North Carolina may be doing its part, but it’s not enough to fix everything that’s wrong. Other areas of the country are getting worse, and our atmosphere doesn’t respect state borders. Maybe when they see the benefits here, they’ll wise up.
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Careful planning now, based on sound science and firm commitment, will help preserve a clean and healthy environment for future generations.