AN ACT AUTHORIZing COUNTies and municipalities TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT incentives IN EXCHANGE FOR REDUCTIONs IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 160A‑383.4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑383.4.  Local energy efficiency incentives.
(a)	Land‑Use Development Incentives. – Counties and municipalities, for the purpose of reducing the amount of energy consumption by new development, and thereby promoting the public health, safety, and welfare, may adopt ordinances to grant a density bonus, make adjustments to otherwise applicable development requirements, or provide other incentives to a developer or builder within the county or municipality and its extraterritorial planning jurisdiction if the developer or builder agrees to construct new development or reconstruct existing development in a manner that the county or municipality determines, based on generally recognized standards established for such purposes, makes a significant contribution to the reduction of energy consumption.
	"
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3rd day of June, 2009.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved 4:38 p.m. this 11th day of June, 2009