North Carolina
North Carolina remains the South’s leader on climate, with Governor Cooper (D) spearheading some progress on climate and environmental justice policy.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Roy Cooper (D)
House: Republican majority
Senate: Republican supermajority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
North Carolina State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Climate Change and Clean Energy Portal – North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
North Carolina Legal Profile — Lawyers for Good Government
Evaluating North Carolina’s Progress on Critical Climate Targets — EDF
How Energy Efficiency Can Help Rebuild North Carolina’s Economy — ACEEE
Power Sector Decarbonization in North Carolina — EDF
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2025:
40%
By 2030:
50%
By 2050:
Net-zero
Target relative to 2005 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
40% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | Net-zero by 2050 Relative to 2005 levels
Mandate Source
2025: Voluntary – Executive Order 80 (2018)
2030 and 2050: Voluntary – Executive Order 246 (2022)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
NC Climate Change Interagency Council
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
North Carolina Clean Energy Fund
Establishing Legislation
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
Executive Order 80 (2018) – Agencies must prioritize ZEVs when purchasing or leasing new vehicles
Executive Order 271 (2022) – Agencies must prioritize medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) ZEVs when purchasing or leasing new MHD vehicles
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board Charter (2022)
Definition
“Underserved populations” means block groups that (1) are either at least 50% non-White or have a non-White population at least 10% higher than county or state share, and (2) have at least 20% of the population experiencing poverty and the share of households in poverty is at least 5% higher than the county or state share.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
Executive Order 292 (2023) – Environmental Justice Advisory Council
EJ Government Staff
Executive Order 246 (2022) – Cabinet Agency Environmental Justice and Equity Leads
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
70% by 2030 | Carbon neutral by 2050 Relative to 2005 levels
Mandate Source
HB 951 (2021)
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Target
IOUs: 12.5% by 2021 | Munis and coops: 10% by 2018
Legislation
N.C. Gen. Stat. §62-133.8 (2007)
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 3 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 23rd
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 1 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2015 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2015 IECC
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 1 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 3 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
ZEV Program
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Executive Order 80 (2018) – By 2025: At least 80,000 registered ZEVs
Executive Order 246 (2022) – By 2030: 50% of in-state sales of new vehicles are zero-emission and at least 1.25 million registered ZEVs
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
ZEV Program
In progress – Executive Order 271 (2022) requires the NCDEQ to propose the Advanced Clean Trucks rule for consideration by May 15, 2023
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 0 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 18th
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.