North Carolina Needs NC SAVE$ ENERGY Now

House Bill 1050, the NC SAVE$ ENERGY bill, is going to be introduced into the Energy and Energy Efficiency Committee this Wednesday. The bill, which plans on creating an independent energy efficiency program in North Carolina, will create thousands of green jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and keep all of our energy rates down in the coming years.

Passing this bill could simultaneously address arguably the three most pressing issues on all of our minds right now: the economy, the environment, and our back pockets. The thousands of green jobs and almost $60 million dollars that will be generated from NC SAVE$ ENERGY could go a long way toward stimulating our current economy, especially in the midst of a recession. The $60 million will be generated by a small surcharge that on average will amount to less than $2 per household. Obviously, this cost is much smaller than the rate increases that have already been proposed by utility corporations, and there is no telling how many more increases could be in our future if the utilities continue to control the state's energy efficiency market (Duke and Progress Energy have already proposed the construction of $40-50 billion in new power plants over the next 15 years).

Lastly, global climate change could be the defining issue of our generation. How we deal with limiting our destruction of this Earth will echo for generations to come, and how we handle the current crisis will affect every other organism that inhabits or will inhabit this world. Given current technology, energy efficiency is the best way for us to reduce our contribution to global warming and to continue living the same lifestyle we enjoy. Energy efficiency has made progress in the last few years, but these victories have taken too long. Now, we have the opportunity to pass a bill that can really make a difference and show the rest of the country that North Carolina is serious about the environment and serious about curbing climate change.

The NC SAVE$ ENERGY bill, House Bill 1050, is going to be introduced into the Energy and Energy Efficiency Committee this week. There are plenty of opponents from the profit-driven utility corporations that will try to stop the bill from being passed. If you are serious about green jobs, if you are serious about climate change, and if you are serious about this economy, YOU can help NC SAVE$ by calling your legislator and telling him or her how important this issue is to you.

You can reach the State Legislature at 919-733-7928 and then ask for your legislator from the switchboard. If you are calling after hours, you can find your representative's office phone number at www.ncleg.net

A simple phone call or message could make all the difference.

Thank you to all of those who have and will be taking the time to help this cause,