Foes of Energy Bill Try to Turn the Heat Up

Jul 26 - The News & Observer

As opposition mounts from environmental groups, the House Committee on Public Utilities passed a bill Wednesday requiring the state's utilities to increase their reliance on renewable resources and energy efficiency programs.

The bill moves to the House Finance Committee for discussion today on the legislation's potential costs to North Carolina consumers. The finance committee is the energy bill's last stop before it's considered by the full House.

The legislation has already been passed by the state Senate, but the Senate would have to take another vote to approve revisions adopted by House lawmakers.

The bill is opposed by many environmental organizations even though it requires that 12.5 percent of electricity sold by utilities like Progress Energy and Duke Energy come from efficiency and renewables such as solar and wind power.

Environmentalists oppose a provision that would require some renewable energy to come from animal waste, which can generate more pollutants than a coal-burning power plant. The groups fear it would keep controversial hog waste lagoons in operation longer.

Another concern: The bill also makes it easier to finance construction of nuclear power plants and coal-burning plants by allowing utilities to start recovering their investments sooner and save hundreds of millions of dollars.

An alliance of environmental groups is running radio and newspapers ads in opposition to the bill. The effort is costing "tens of thousands of dollars," said Jim Warren, director of Durham-based N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network.

The legislation passed the public utilities committee in about 45 minutes Wednesday. Committee chairman Rep. Drew Saunders, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, rejected the contention that the bill is being rushed through without adequate study.

"We've been working on this bill longer than we've been working on the state budget," he said.

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