Renewable-energy bill passes 1st vote in (North Carolina RPS)

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http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351827879

A bill that would require North Carolina’s utility companies to provide 12.5 percent of their retail electricity from renewable energy and power-saving measures cleared the Senate yesterday.

The bill, approved 46-1, faces a final vote in the Senate before it goes to the N.C. House, where some members plan to fight a provision that helps finance new power-plant construction.

Members who oppose the finance provision fear that it will encourage power companies to rely too heavily on building more coal-fired and nuclear plants.

One of the bill’s champions, Sen. Dan Clodfelter, D-Mecklenburg, said that the section has been “misunderstood and mischaracterized.” He said that utilities would have to make their case to charge for continuing construction.

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