Negotiated energy bill advancing through NC Senate

A bipartisan energy bill backed by Gov. Roy Cooper that targets scaling back greenhouse gas emissions is advancing in the North Carolina legislature. The bill also gives Duke Energy the option to seek rate increases. The measure cleared two Senate committees on Tuesday and is likely to be on the Senate floor Wednesday. The legislation should be on the Democratic governor’s desk soon, given its backing from members of both parties, Duke Energy and several key business groups. The bill directs the state Utilities Commission to come up with a plan to reduce carbon dioxide levels from energy producers drastically by 2030 and have net-zero emissions by 2050.