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<br />AttacJirnent
<br />General Assembly Of North Carolina Session... 2017 ..............
<br />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 our living standards, and boost economic growth in coming years; and
<br />Whereas, low- income communities and communities of color in North Carolina and
<br />the United States are inordinately exposed to pollution that causes serious health problems,
<br />such as cancer and asthma, from fossil fuels, including the dirtiest coal -fired power plants,
<br />which produce coal ash and which are disproportionately located in communities of color; and
<br />Whereas, a Stanford University and University of California - Berkeley study
<br />concludes the United States energy supply could be based entirely on renewable energy by the
<br />year 2050 using current technologies and 80% on renewable energy by 2030 while creating
<br />numerous green jobs; and
<br />Whereas, municipalities, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions
<br />throughout the world have set a goal to achieve carbon or climate neutrality by 2050 or earlier;
<br />and
<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
<br />Charlotte, Southeastern Community College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
<br />the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
<br />the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Wake Technical Community College, and
<br />Warren Wilson College; and
<br />Whereas, some of the statistics regarding North Carolina's use of solar energy
<br />include the following: (i) installing 1,140 megawatts of solar electric capacity in 2015, ranking
<br />it second nationally, (ii) investing nearly $1.7 billion on solar installations in the State, a 159%
<br />increase over the previous year; (iii) having more than 200 solar companies at work throughout
<br />the value chain in North Carolina, which employs some 6,000 people; (iv) ranking third in the
<br />nation in installed solar capacity, providing enough energy to power 260,000 homes; and (v)
<br />having more offshore wind energy potential than any Atlantic state; and
<br />Whereas, since 2010, solar photovoltaic system prices in the United States have
<br />dropped by 66 %; and
<br />Whereas, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment
<br />Report recommended a global goal of achieving near zero greenhouse gas emissions or below,
<br />which is necessary to stabilize the global average temperature to avoid climate catastrophe;
<br />Now, therefore,
<br />Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
<br />SECTION 1. The State of North Carolina should establish a transition from a fossil
<br />fuel -based economy to one hundred percent (100 %) clean renewable energy for all energy
<br />sector economies, by December 31, 2050, to avoid climate catastrophe, to promote job creation
<br />and economic growth, and to protect the earth for current and future generations from climate
<br />catastrophe.
<br />SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
<br />Page 2 House Resolution 401 -First Edition
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