A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the north carolina energy independence search committee to contact and invite major energy companies to explore in north carolina for natural gas, oil, wind, or other energy sources capable of large scale energy production for the purpose of north carolina becoming more energy independent.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 22. North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee.
"§ 143B‑472.130.  North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee.
(a)	The North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee is established to contact and invite major energy companies to explore in North Carolina for natural gas, oil, wind, or other energy sources capable of large scale energy production for the purpose of North Carolina becoming more self‑determining as to its energy supplies; becoming more independent of foreign energy markets, which are volatile and steeply fluctuating due to current energy and political crises; and avoiding the potential of being completely cut off from foreign fuel due to political unrest and instability in the Middle East. The North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee is charged with the following:
(1)	Identifying prospective major energy companies that explore for and produce energy from natural gas, oil, wind, or other energy sources capable of large scale energy production.
(2)	Contacting the major energy exploration and production companies it identifies and inviting these companies to North Carolina to present the North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee with specific proposals for the large scale production of energy in North Carolina.
(b)	The North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee shall consist of the following members:
(1)	One member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	One member to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	One member to be appointed by the Governor.
(c)	The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select the member who shall serve as Chair of the Search Committee. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. The North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee shall convene no later than November 1, 2011, and shall set its subsequent meeting schedule as determined by the members of the Search Committee.
(d)	Members of the North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee shall serve for three‑year staggered terms. Any vacancy that occurs on the Search Committee shall be filled within 30 days of the vacancy occurring and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Nonlegislative members of the Search Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances at the rates set forth in G.S. 138‑6. Legislative members of the Search Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1.
(e)	The Department of Commerce shall provide requested administrative, professional, and clerical support to the North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee.
(f)	The North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee shall submit annual reports no later than January 15 of each year to the Secretary of Commerce, to the General Assembly, and to the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The annual report shall include the findings and recommendations of the Search Committee and a report of the Search Committee's progress in accomplishing its charge under this section."
SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding G.S. 143B‑472.130(d), as enacted by Section 1 of this act, in order to establish a schedule of staggered terms of three years for the North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee established by G.S. 143B‑472.130, the initial members shall be appointed no later than October 1, 2011, and the term of the member of the Search Committee initially appointed by the Governor shall be two years, the term of the member of the Search Committee initially appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be three years, and the term of the member of the Search Committee initially appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall be four years.
SECTION 3.  The North Carolina Energy Independence Search Committee established under G.S. 143B‑472.130, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, shall submit its first report required under G.S. 143B‑472.130 no later than January 15, 2012.
SECTION 4.  This act shall be implemented using funds available to the Department of Commerce for the 2011‑2012 fiscal year and for the 2012‑2013 fiscal year.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2011.