Among the flurry of bills approved by the General Assembly during the last week of June was an extremely controversial proposal that would make big changes to state energy policy, entitled the “Power Bill Reduction Act.” The bill would repeal a bipartisan 2021 law that committed our state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 70 percent by the year 2030, as we move to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century.

Proponents like Duke Energy say the interim goal was unnecessary and that changes in the bill will help keep energy prices in check, but a new data analysis released by a trio of NC State professors found that the legislation would likely increase electricity bills for average households. So, what gives? What’s really driving this bill and why are consumer and environmental advocates so concerned? Earlier this week, hours before Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill, NC Newsline’s Rob Schofield sat down with Sierra Club advocate Mikaela Curry to learn more.

Click here for the full interview with Mikaela Curry of the Sierra Club of NC.