Critics blast measure allowing other plants

MARGARET LILLARD

Associated Press

RALEIGH –

North Carolina inched a step closer to becoming the first Southeastern state to make its utilities use renewable fuels and energy conservation under a bill that won preliminary House approval Monday.

The highly touted energy act requires the state’s utilities to provide 12.5 percent of their retail electricity from renewable fuel and efficiency measures by 2017.

It cleared its first full House vote 108-11, and needs final House approval and Senate concurrence before Gov. Mike Easley can sign it into law.

Critics have complained in committee hearings about sections of the measure that would allow the construction of traditional power plants to be financed at ratepayers’ expense.

But those complaints have largely been set aside as most lawmakers accepted that North Carolina’s growth — and growing demand for electricity — can’t be met by conservation and alternative fuel sources alone. (more…)