OTHER-2024-036-Draft CPIRP letter

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r, j plan , GSO2040 , contains high - level goals for prioritizing sustainability through environmental stewardship , social equity , and economic resilience . • The Town of Hillsborough adopted a resolution in 2017 establishing a transition from r fossil fuel - powered operations to 100 % clean and renewable energy by December 31 , 2050 , or sooner and 80 % clean and renewable energy by 2030 . • Orange County adopted a resolution in 2017 to transition to 100 % renewable energy by 2050 and a resolution to proportionally uphold the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 26 and 28 percent by 2025 from 2005 levels . i G Orange County' s Climate Action Plan , adopted in November 2023 , further committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 % by 2030 and 100 % by 2050 . • The City of Raleigh adopted a goal in 2019 of reducing community GHG emissions by 80 % by 2050 . In addition , the City' s Comprehensive Plan and Strategic Plan include I policies and goals that focus on GHG reductions , utilizing alternative and renewable energy , improving energy efficiency , improving equity and resilience , and improving p 9 gY Y p g q Y p 9 energy security . Despite robust efforts at the community level , local governments are often constrained in achieving our goals and reducing our total GHG emissions footprints by our minimal direct ability to choose and optimize the sources of electricity that power our communities . Cities and counties are interested in finding ways to improve the overall emissions performance of the c; electricity system as a result . In addition , local governments understand firsthand how energy decisions affect the overall affordability and livability of their communities . High energy costs are a major contributor to economic insecurity , and many low- income energy- burdened North Carolinians suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change and power plant pollution . Moreover, as some of the utilities ' largest customers and good stewards of taxpayer money , local governments are acutely aware of the role that clean energy investments can play in keeping costs reasonable and predictable over the long -term , hedging against volatile fuel �` prices , and delivering significant economic benefits in terms of ratepayer costs as well as public and environmental health , resilience , and other non - energy benefits . For all of these reasons , the effective implementation of Session Law 2021 - 165/ House Bill 951 , including the development and implementation of the CPIRP , is a significant priority of North I Carolina ' s local governments . Duke and the NCUC have both been essential partners for implementing our climate and clean energy plans and related priorities and the undersigned see the CPIRP as a pivotal opportunity to increase collaboration and achieve more together. The undersigned ask that the Commission consider the following recommendations in crafting the 2024 CPIRP : it 1 . All pathways in NCUC ' s 2024 CPIRP should prioritize meeting the 2030 deadline of reducing carbon emissions by 70 % compared to 2005 levels . 2 . The 2024 CPIRP should fully account for available incentives included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act ( IRA) , particularly the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment ( EIR) program , which has significant 4 ' c potential to promote the deployment of carbon free resources in a cost effective manner . 3