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Whereas, leading economists, policy experts, and business leaders conclude that
<br />transitioning to a clean energy economy available for all would create millions of green jobs
<br />nationally, improve health and living standards, and boost economic growth in coming years;
<br />Whereas, a study cited two of the twenty dirtiest coal plants in the country in North
<br />Carolina, the Belews Creek plant and the Roxboro Steam plant;
<br />Whereas, low- income communities and communities of color in North Carolina and the
<br />United States are inordinately exposed to pollution, that causes serious health problems such as
<br />cancer and asthma, from fossil fuels, including the dirtiest coal -fired power plants which produce
<br />coal ash, and need to be empowered and have access to educational tools and an awareness of
<br />climate issues;
<br />Whereas, a Stanford University and University of California - Berkeley study concludes
<br />the United States energy supply could be based entirely on renewable energy by the year 2050
<br />using current technologies and 80% renewable energy by 2030 while creating numerous green
<br />jobs;
<br />Whereas, municipalities, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions throughout
<br />the world have set a goal to achieve carbon or climate neutrality by 2050 or earlier;
<br />Whereas, over 1,000 mayors have joined the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate
<br />Protection Agreement since 2005 to commit to significantly reduce carbon emissions in their
<br />cities to combat climate change;
<br />Whereas, over 600 American colleges and universities have made a commitment to
<br />reduce greenhouse gases, including Appalachian State University, Blue Ridge Community
<br />College, Carteret Community College, Catawba College, Central Carolina Community College,
<br />Davidson College, Duke University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State
<br />University, Guilford College, North Carolina Central University, Queens University of Charlotte,
<br />Southeastern Community College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of
<br />North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North
<br />Carolina at Pembroke, Wake Technical Community College, and Warren Wilson College;
<br />Whereas, North Carolina installed 1,140 MW of solar electric capacity in 2015, ranking
<br />it second nationally; nearly $1.7 billion was invested on solar installations in North Carolina, a
<br />159% increase over the previous year; there are currently more than 200 solar companies at work
<br />throughout the value chain in North Carolina, the state companies employing some 6,000 people;
<br />North Carolina ranks third in the nation in installed solar capacity, enough to power 260,000
<br />homes; and solar photovoltaic system prices in the U.S. have dropped by 66% since 2010;
<br />Whereas, North Carolina has more offshore wind energy potential than any other Atlantic state;
<br />Whereas, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report
<br />recommended a global goal of achieving near zero greenhouse gas emissions or below, which is
<br />necessary to stabilize the global average temperature to avoid climate catastrophe;
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