Governor Proclaims North Carolina Energy Efficiency Day 2023

WHEREAS, reliable and affordable energy is vital to North Carolina’s economic prosperity, and energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet our energy needs while reducing pollution; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 80, North Carolina’s Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy, calls for a 40 percent reduction in energy consumption in state-owned buildings by 2025; and

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

WHEREAS, North Carolina had more than 78,000 energy efficiency jobs at the end of 2021, ranking 9^th in the nation; energy efficiency continues to be the largest sector of clean energy employment in the Tar Heel state, and North Carolina has more clean energy jobs in rural areas than any other state in America; and

WHEREAS, improved energy codes for homes and commercial buildings can also significantly reduce utility bills for ratepayers and create new jobs; the State of North Carolina would benefit from increasing building energy efficiency through adoption of more up to date codes and standards, including ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and the model 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); and

WHEREAS, energy efficiency provides critical support for traditionally underserved communities including those living in rural areas, low-income individuals and families, renters, agricultural communities, and small businesses; the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality implements a number of energy efficiency and weatherization programs and has used federal funding for various energy efficiency projects in low- to moderate-income areas; and

WHEREAS, the work of the Utility Savings Initiative within the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is a lead-by-example program supporting energy efficiency in all state-owned buildings, and since 2002, our state has avoided more than $1.75 billion in utility costs by implementing energy efficiency measures in public buildings, including approximately $177 million in avoided utility costs in FY2021-22; and

WHEREAS, according to the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy, North Carolina’s existing energy efficiency programs could reduce the state’s growing electricity needs by nearly one-fifth by 2040, and further the emission reduction goals of EO 80, the Clean Energy Plan, and House Bill 951, Energy Solutions for North Carolina;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 4, 2023, as “NORTH CAROLINA ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.