Governing Magazine's April issue features a story headlined "Renewable Energy Requirements Get a Second Wind."

 

The story initially focuses on debate over subsidies in Kansas and then delves into North Carolina's law. Senate Bill 3 was passed in 2007. Supporters say the law is an appropriate subsidy to kickstart the renewable industry. Detractors, led by Rep. Mike Hager of Rutherford County, say the state shouldn't be picking winners and losers in the marketplace and that the subsidies have pushed electric rates higher than they should be.

 

An excerpt from Governing:

 

"A joint study by the conservative think tanks the Beacon Hill Institute and the John Locke Foundation estimates that RPS will cost North Carolina electricity consumers $1.845 billion between 2008 and 2021. The report also challenged what it characterized as bloated job creation claims by pro-RPS forces. Such arguments—and eye-popping numbers—however, weren’t enough to win over key House and Senate Republicans last session. They joined with Democrats to kill a bill sponsored by ALEC member and former Duke Energy employee, Rep. Mike Hager.

 

Hager blames the foundering of his Electricity Freedom Act on powerful political interests including poultry and pork farms, which are specifically designated as renewable energy producers in the North Carolina RPS law. “[They] don’t want to end the gravy train,” Hager was quoted as saying after the bill was bottled up in the House."

 

The entire story can be found at http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-renewable-energy-requirements-second-wind.html.