{"id":10979,"date":"2015-08-31T13:23:48","date_gmt":"2015-08-31T18:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=10979"},"modified":"2015-08-31T18:02:33","modified_gmt":"2015-08-31T23:02:33","slug":"critics-of-clean-energy-in-north-carolina-you-got-your-facts-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2015\/08\/31\/critics-of-clean-energy-in-north-carolina-you-got-your-facts-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"Critics of Clean Energy in North Carolina: You Got Your Facts Wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NC-Solar-Jobs-1024x681\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Critics of North Carolina\u2019s clean energy industry recently bought some radio ads asking state lawmakers who support North Carolina\u2019s clean energy policies to change their minds and turn their backs on this growing industry. These opponents mistakenly argue our state\u2019s clean energy policies burden North Carolinians with rising energy costs that hurt families and cost the state jobs. These claims are baseless.<\/p>\n

Yes, energy costs<\/a> in North Carolina have increased \u2013 $40 or $50 per month for many households since 2001. But the growth of renewable energy is not the reason why. Conventional energy sources like coal are getting more expensive, accounting for as much as 84 percent of this increase.<\/p>\n

The truth is, renewable energy is helping to slow rising energy costs, saving North Carolina electricity customers $162 million since 2007. And while clean energy continues to grow, so will the savings for our state\u2019s families and businesses \u2013 delivering nearly half a billion dollars in additional savings over the next 15 years.<\/p>\n

North Carolina\u2019s clean energy policies are also creating jobs, building businesses, and strengthening our state\u2019s economy. In the last few years, our state\u2019s clean energy industry<\/a> has experienced tremendous growth with employment increasing 25 percent annually between 2012 and 2014. Today, the industry includes more than 1,200 firms and provides nearly 23,000 jobs that help put food on the table for thousands of North Carolina families. Last year, clean energy businesses and workers generated nearly $5 billion in gross revenues for the state\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s more good news. The growing success of North Carolina\u2019s clean energy industry is creating positive ripple effects. Much like the state\u2019s world-class university system, our clean energy economy makes North Carolina an attractive choice for business leaders who are looking for the right place to invest and grow their businesses.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, tech-giants<\/a> Google, Apple, and Facebook told lawmakers that our state\u2019s renewable energy standards \u201cmade North Carolina particularly attractive to [their] businesses.\u201d More recently, SAS Institute, Inc.<\/a> \u2013 a North Carolina-based technology company \u2013 told state lawmakers: \u201cTechnology companies value North Carolina\u2019s existing energy policies, which enable us to operate and grow our businesses in a sustainable manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Tweet “NC #CleanEnergy critics get facts wrong”]<\/p>\n

Joining technology companies<\/a> are some of our country\u2019s largest retailers and major manufacturers, who are asking North Carolina\u2019s leaders to do more than just protect existing clean energy policies. These companies want the ability to buy clean, renewable electricity directly from energy providers other than large monopoly utilities. They want lawmakers to repeal antiquated state laws that stifle competition in the energy market. Opening the market to competition will give customers \u2013 businesses and families \u2013 the freedom to choose where they buy energy and expand access to options like rooftop solar.<\/p>\n

Much to the chagrin of its detractors, clean energy is a growing and increasingly important part of North Carolina\u2019s economy, its benefits are widespread<\/a>, and businesses are calling for even more. Clean energy is expanding, creating jobs, and saving families and businesses money. It\u2019s bringing new investments to the state and growing the tax base in rural areas that have struggled economically. It\u2019s giving North Carolina a competitive advantage over other states, helping to make us an attractive choice for industries to locate, invest, and build businesses.<\/p>\n

North Carolina lawmakers will serve our state well by supporting clean energy policies.<\/p>\n

Photo Source: Steve Exum, exumphoto.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Critics of North Carolina\u2019s clean energy industry recently bought some radio ads asking state lawmakers who support North Carolina\u2019s clean energy policies to change their minds and turn their backs on this growing industry. These opponents mistakenly argue our state\u2019s clean energy policies burden North Carolinians with rising energy costs that hurt families and cost …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69509,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42996,177],"tags":[84846],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-10979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-smart-power","category-renewable-energy","tag-north-carolina"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCritics of Clean Energy in North Carolina: You Got Your Facts Wrong - Energy Exchange<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2015\/08\/31\/critics-of-clean-energy-in-north-carolina-you-got-your-facts-wrong\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Critics of Clean Energy in North Carolina: You Got Your Facts Wrong - Energy Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Critics of North Carolina\u2019s clean energy industry recently bought some radio ads asking state lawmakers who support North Carolina\u2019s clean energy policies to change their minds and turn their backs on this growing industry. 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