Governor Proclaims Clean Energy Week 2023

WHEREAS, North Carolina benefited from over $31.3 billion of clean energy investment between 2007 and 2022; North Carolina’s colleges and universities, in coordination with local and state partners, local municipalities, business leaders, and many others, continue to advance research and innovation in clean energy technologies; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 80, North Carolina’s Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy, established goals of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 40 percent reduction in state-owned building energy consumption, registration of 80,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2025, and directed the development of the North Carolina Clean Energy Plan which, with stakeholder input, established the goals of reducing power sector greenhouse gas emissions 70 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050; and 

WHEREAS, the 2021 bipartisan energy law, Energy Solutions for North Carolina, requires regulated electric utilities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 70 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 218, Advancing North Carolina’s Economic and Clean Energy Future with Offshore Wind, established offshore wind development targets of 2.8 gigawatts of offshore wind energy resources off the North Carolina coast by 2030 and 8.0 gigawatts by 2040; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina ranks fourth nationally for installed solar energy capacity, ninth for clean energy jobs, and first for clean energy jobs in rural areas with benefits in all 100 counties of the state, employing more than 100,000 North Carolinians across occupations advancing energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric transportation, energy storage, and other energy technologies; and

WHEREAS, clean energy improves public health by reducing air pollution and other environmental impacts that result from fossil fuel use and often disproportionately impact overburdened communities and communities of color; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages individuals and organizations to observe Clean Energy Week by learning about and adopting solutions that advance America’s clean energy opportunities in the 21^st Century;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 25 – 29, 2023, as “CLEAN ENERGY WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.