NCGA: A shot across the bow at crony capitalism | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Brant Clifton uses the words of others, in part, to keep a close inspection of the NC General Assembly in his "bare knuckles" Conservative online publication known as The Daily Haymaker.

    We've expressed our dismay at recent legislation - sponsored by a hodge-podge of statist Democrats, RINOs, and reputed conservatives - to extend the 35 percent credit for solar energy production for five years. However, hope for some common sense is on the horizon. There's a clear record out there that shows solar energy to be impractical as a primary energy source and unaffordable without government subsidies.

    HB 681- introduced by Rep. Chris Millis (R-Pender) and co-sponsored by Reps. Hager, Collins, and Warren - calls out that legislation for the costly boondoggle it is and seeks changes to current law regarding energy policy:

      •  Sunset of alternative energy mandates. Current law sets requirements for the total amount of alternative energy sold to utility provides at 0.02% in 2010 and increasing to 0.20 percent for 2018 and beyond. HB 681 seeks to sunset the mandate at 0.14 percent by the beginning of 2018.

      •  Repeal of a property tax exclusion for solar energy electric systems. Who knew about THIS? Slap some solar panels on your property and avoid property taxes? Wow.

      •  Require the Energy Policy Council to provide the state Utilities Commission and the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Government Operations a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of solar energy and its relationship with the power grid. (WHAT? Taking cost into consideration when looking at government policy? *Oh, the horror!*)

      •  Direct The State of North Carolina to promote [...] renewable energy and energy efficiency in a manner that is consistent with the development of the least cost mix of generation. (*There we go again with that "least cost" stuff.*)