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Published: 2022-08-22 17:11:00 Updated: 2022-08-22 17:26:41

Posted August 22, 2022 5:11 p.m. EDT Updated August 22, 2022 5:26 p.m. EDT

By Liz McLaughlin, WRAL Reporter

The debate continues over how to reduce carbon emissions from energy production in the state.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) is weighing comments and proposals for a carbon-reduction plan with the final two public hearings set to take place on Tuesday. The commission must craft its plan by the year’s end, as required by a 2021 energy reform law with climate goals of curbing carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels and reaching net-zero carbon by 2050.

Duke Energy, serving more than 2 million customers in North Carolina, submitted its Carolinas Carbon Plan proposal with four portfolios that would retire all its coal plants by 2035 and replace them with a mix of solar, storage, wind, nuclear, and natural gas.

"The reality is, you need backup energy supply when the sun's not shining, and the wind is not blowing," said Bill Norton of Duke Energy. "Certain groups have industries that they advocate for, we're advocating for an all the above approach because it's best, it's what's best for customer reliability, and affordability," he said.

The company's proposal has garnered backlash from climate activists who say it doesn't do enough for the transition to clean energy.

"It forces us to rely on additional natural gas, but all of this effort is to transition away from fossil fuels," said Luis Martinez of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). "So to start the effort by building additional fossil fuels, it's just counterproductive.

"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

NRDC along with Southern Environmental Law Center, NC Sustainability Association, Sierra Club and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy submitted a proposal that they say would reduce emissions by 2030 and cost between $700 million and $2.4 billion less than Duke's plan.

"What we saw in our modeling is that we don't need any additional methane gas investments, there's sufficient amount in the state to get to our goals," Martinez said.

Dozens of others have weighed in with comments and proposals, including clean energy companies, local governments, agricultural groups and even Walmart.

"At the end of the day, we're all trying to get to the same goal, which is carbon neutrality," Norton said. "The path how you get there is what we're still working out."

The public virtual hearings will take place at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2022. The deadline has passed to register to speak, but the sessions will be live streamed.

After Tuesday's hearings, the commission will hear expert testimony starting Sept. 13.

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