A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish A STATE GOAL OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CLEAN ENERGY BY 2050 for state buildings and the state‑owned motor fleet.
Whereas, since 1880, climate change has increased the global average surface temperature by 1.00 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit); and
Whereas, climate change is expected to increasingly impact North Carolina's temperatures, precipitation, and sea level with harmful consequences in coming years; and
Whereas, climate change and global average temperature increases are primarily due to human‑caused fossil fuels emissions, including coal, oil, and natural gas, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, National Academy of Sciences, American Meteorological Society, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Defense, and numerous other leading scientific, academic, and governmental authorities both in the United States and internationally; and
Whereas, a final agreement of the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP21), including the United States and a total of 195 nations, was reached in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015, entered into force on November 4, 2016, and stated the aim to "hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels"; and
Whereas, scientists have concluded the concentration of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere, is currently and consistently over 400 parts per million (ppm) and will likely stay above this level for the indefinite future for the first time in millions of years; and
Whereas, 16 of the 17 hottest years on record have occurred in the 21st century, and 2016 is the hottest year on record; and
Whereas, an increase in the global average temperature, if not stopped, will have major adverse impacts on both the natural and human‑made environments due to longer, more intense heat waves, prolonged droughts, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and more intense and frequent extreme weather events; and
Whereas, these physical effects are expected to lead to water scarcity, food insecurity, increasing numbers of refugees, increased poverty, and mass extinctions of species; and
Whereas, according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, natural disasters cost the country $91 billion in 2018 due to 14 different natural disasters, ranging from hurricanes to wildfires to winter storms; and
Whereas, in 2018, Hurricane Florence devastated North Carolina, with over 40 confirmed fatalities, and damage across the State approaching an estimated $13 billion; and
Whereas, climate models predict that the country can expect more of these catastrophic and costly events over time; and
Whereas, studies completed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Risky Business Project, Duke University, and others point to the severe economic costs of climate change and continuing use of fossil fuel, estimating billions of dollars a year in costs nationally and trillions globally; and
Whereas, leading economists, policy experts, and business leaders conclude that transitioning to a clean energy economy available for all would create millions of green jobs nationally, improve our living standards, and boost economic growth in coming years; and
Whereas, low‑income communities and communities of color in North Carolina and the United States are inordinately exposed to pollution that causes serious health problems, such as cancer and asthma, from fossil fuels, including the dirtiest coal‑fired power plants, which produce coal ash and which are disproportionately located in communities of color; and
Whereas, a Stanford University and University of California‑Berkeley study concludes the United States energy supply could be based entirely on renewable energy by the year 2050 using current technologies and 80% on renewable energy by 2030 while creating numerous green jobs; and
Whereas, municipalities, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions throughout the world have set a goal to achieve carbon or climate neutrality by 2050 or earlier; and
Whereas, over 600 American colleges and universities have made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, including Appalachian State University, Blue Ridge Community College, Carteret Community College, Catawba College, Central Carolina Community College, Davidson College, Duke University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Guilford College, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, Queens University of Charlotte, Southeastern Community College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Wake Technical Community College, and Warren Wilson College; and
Whereas, some of the statistics regarding North Carolina's use of solar energy include the following: (i) installing 1,140 megawatts of solar electric capacity in 2015, ranking it second nationally, (ii) investing nearly $1.7 billion on solar installations in the State, a 159% increase over the previous year, (iii) having more than 200 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in North Carolina, which employs some 6,000 people, (iv) ranking second in the nation in installed solar capacity, providing enough energy to power 260,000 homes, and (v) having more offshore wind energy potential than any Atlantic state; and
Whereas, since 2010, solar photovoltaic system prices in the United States have dropped by 66%; and
Whereas, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report recommended a global goal of achieving near zero greenhouse gas emissions or below, which is necessary to stabilize the global average temperature to avoid climate catastrophe; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina owns approximately 10,803 buildings, and 7,400 vehicles in its motor fleet, and can make an appreciable impact on advancing clean energy goals for the benefit of all of the State's citizens, and should lead the way in clean energy initiatives for the betterment of the State's environment and economy; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 3B of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended to read:
"Article 3B.
"Conservation of Energy, Water, and Other Utilities by State Government.
…
"§ 143‑64.17N.  Clean energy goal for State property by 2050.
In order to avoid climate catastrophe, to promote job creation and economic growth, and to protect the Earth for current and future generations, it shall be the goal of the State that by December 31, 2050, both of the following measures are achieved:
(1)	One hundred percent (100%) of energy used in State‑owned buildings shall be generated from renewable energy resources.
(2)	One hundred percent (100%) of the State‑owned motor vehicle fleet and vehicles used on behalf of the State shall be zero‑emission vehicles (ZEV).
The Department of Administration, the State Energy Office, and the Department of Transportation shall jointly develop a plan to achieve these goals and shall submit the plan to the 2020 Regular Session of the 2019 General Assembly upon its convening."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.