New Law Could Crush North Carolina's Solar Industry

House Bill 332 may send jobs elsewhere.

In the last seven years, North Carolina has climbed to the forefront of solar installation in the United States thanks to progressive regulations put in place in 2007 that set mandatory minimums on how much renewable energy utilities must sell their customers. Some in the solar industry say a new law in the state legislature aims to bring that progress to a screeching halt.

North Carolina Proposes Fresh Bill to Freeze Renewable Energy Mandate

Another bill aiming to freeze North Carolina’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (REPS) at 6% has passed the state Senate Finance Committee.

House Bill number 332 was pushed through in a controversial manner according to local reports, with some senators claiming there was a majority voting against the bill rather than for it.

If brought into law, the Bill would freeze the amount that utility companies are mandated to buy from renewable energy generators at 6%, instead of increasing to 10% by 2018 and 12.5% by 2021.