North Carolina
Governor
Roy Cooper (Democrat)
House Party
Republican Supermajority
Senate Party
Republican Supermajority
Key Offices & Links
22
40
Southeast
Progress by Policy Area
- Enacted
- In-progress
- Partially Enacted
- Not Enacted
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in North Carolina
Status | Policy | Policy Area | Policy Category | YR Enacted | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enacted |
Empty column
North Carolina Deep Decarbonization Pathways Analysis Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2023 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Climate advisory bodies often write or advise on a state's climate plan, and make non-binding recommendations on climate policy design and implementation. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
NC Climate Change Interagency Council Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2018 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
40% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | net-zero by 2050 Relative to 2005 levels Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The 1990-2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory was published in January 2024. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2024 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Cumulative impact assessments determine the health and environmental impacts of renewing or granting a permit for certain pollution-generating facilities in environmental justice communities. Increased pollution burdens in communities may result in the permit application being denied. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Environmental Justice Advisory Council Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2023 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Cabinet Agencies Environmental Justice and Equity Leads NCDEQ – Environmental Justice Coordinator Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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"Underserved populations" are census block groups where (1) at least 50% of residents are non-White or which have a non-White population 10% higher than the county or state share; and (2) where 20% of the population is experiencing poverty and the share of households in poverty is at least 5% higher than the county or state share. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2022 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Environmental justice (EJ) community investment requirements help ensure communities most impacted by environmental burdens are benefitting equitably from public programs by requiring a certain percentage of funds and/or benefits from other policies are allocated to EJ communities. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
N.C. Environmental Justice Hub DEQ North Carolina Community Mapping System Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2024 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition advisory bodies write or advise on a state's just transition plan or report, and make recommendations on ways to support affected workers, communities, and industries. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition offices and staff assist workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction and use, typically through retraining programs and support with relocation and economic diversification. Offices and staff also coordinate with other state agencies to effectively design policy to achieve a just transition. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
North Carolina Clean Energy Fund Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Climate Finance | 2020 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Carbon pollution pricing establishes a pollution fee or cap-and-trade program on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with each sector/source of emissions within the state. Programs typically cover the electricity, buildings, transportation, and/or industrial sectors. |
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
State agencies are encouraged to incorporate the social cost of carbon into agency decision-making processes that impact greenhouse gas emissions. Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
10% renewable energy by 2018 for munis and coops | 12.5% renewable energy by 2021 for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2007 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
North Carolina Clean Energy Plan Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2019 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
70% reduction by 2030, relative to 2005 levels, and carbon-neutral emissions by 2050 Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2021 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Community choice aggregation allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider. |
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
1/5
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
3/11
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
3/6
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Energy storage targets establish procurement targets for energy storage systems by a certain date, often with interim targets. Targets can vary from broad megawatt (MW) requirements to more specific mandates that focus on the adoption of certain storage technologies. |
Electricity
|
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
North Carolina received a C grade from Freeing the Grid. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | 2023 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. |
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Requires the securitization of 50% of the remaining value of all subcritical coal-fired generating facilities, with the remaining costs to be recovered through energy rates Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | 2021 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2015 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2013 with amendments. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2018 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2015 IECC. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2018 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Appliance standards set minimum energy and water conservation requirements for appliances and equipment. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Public electric utilities in the state must obtain renewable energy power and energy efficiency savings of 12.5% of 2020 retail sales in 2021 and thereafter. 40% of this requirement can be met with energy efficiency measures annually. Gas utilities are not subject to an EERS. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2007 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Property assessed clean energy (PACE) allows residential and/or commercial property owners to finance efficiency upgrades with loans tied to the property. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
1/4
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Electrification | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle rebates offer rebates to make light-duty electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state. |
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, California has the unique authority to establish vehicle emission standards more stringent than federal standards, and other states may adopt California’s standards. These Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards control tailpipe emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gasses from light-duty vehicles. |
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates, also known as "clean car standards," require automakers to produce and sell a certain percentage of zero-emission light-duty vehicles each model year based on total new vehicle sales. The most stringent ZEV mandates require 100% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035 and are known as "Advanced Clean Cars II". |
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Low NOx Omnibus Rules establish stringent tailpipe emission standards for heavy duty vehicles, updated testing procedures, and technology-neutral compliance mechanisms to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution. The regulation must be adopted first by California, and other states may adopt the regulation under the federal Clean Air Act. |
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
In 2022, Governor Cooper signed EO 271 directing the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to propose that the Environmental Management Commission adopt an Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) program by May 15, 2023. However, the 2023 budget included language that prohibits ACT's regulatory process from proceeding further. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle rebates consist of programs and policies that offer rebates to make MHD electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state. |
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric bus procurement targets require that a certain percentage or number of school buses and/or transit buses purchased or leased by the state, transit authorities, and/or school districts must be electric or zero-emissions. |
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Agencies must prioritize ZEVs when purchasing new passenger vehicles Agencies must prioritize medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs when purchasing new MHD vehicles Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | 2018 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rebates offer rebates to make the purchase and/or installation costs of EV charging infrastructure more affordable. |
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements establish mandates for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in new construction or developments, such as residential or commercial buildings, and public parking lots. |
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
N.C. Clean Transportation Plan North Carolina Zero Emission Vehicle Plan 2022 Progress Update Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | 2023 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) is a market-based mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and account for the fuel's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit emissions in the transportation sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by specific amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Partially Enacted |
Empty column
North Carolina is ranked 18th out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
4/5
|
Transportation
|
Public and Active Transportation | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Buy clean requirements mandate or incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as concrete and steel, in public projects to address embodied carbon. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Industrial Decarbonization | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) regulations include phasedown commitments, rulemakings, disclosure requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce HFC usage and emissions. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
F-gas Regulations | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce SF6 usage and emissions. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
F-gas Regulations | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Oil and Gas Regulations | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Oil and Gas Regulations | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Landfill methane regulations include rulemakings, emissions monitoring, emissions control, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from decaying organic waste in landfills. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) provides financial assistance to help address nonpoint source pollution, including soil health measures. Establishing Policies
|
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 1984 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) provides technical assistance to help address nonpoint source pollution, including soil health measures. Establishing Policies
|
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 1984 |