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North Carolina
North Carolina is committed to being a leader in clean energy. Both the North Carolina State Energy Office and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality (DAQ) have a long history of providing support for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean air. "We are excited to be joining the Climate and Energy Partnership because it helps support our efforts toward energy security, a cleaner environment, and a stronger economy for the residents of North Carolina," said North Carolina State Energy Office Director Larry Shirley.
North Carolina has initiated several collaborative efforts that identify and recommend several ways that North Carolina can save energy and improve air quality by improving energy efficiency and promoting the development of renewable energy and other alternative energy supplies. They include the development of the State Energy Plan, adopted in 2003 and revised in 2004; the completion of a report on potential CO2 emission reduction strategies for North Carolina, released in September 2005; and the creation of a Climate Action Plan Advisory Group which, in 2006, will explore in-depth the economic and environmental benefits of various mitigation measures North Carolina could pursue. Through the State Climate and Energy Partnership, North Carolina plans to expand on these collaborative efforts and to identify additional ways to achieve economic and environmental benefits through sound public policy and public-private partnerships.
