Pins matching tag:NC

North Carolina HB 1002, the 'Rate Payer Protection Act' (Rep. Pricey Harrison D-Guilford), would prohibit utilities from charging residential ratepayers for the electricity costs of large commercial data centers (≥100 MW) and require those costs to be paid directly by data centers through separate rates. The bill also proposes a Special Commission for Data Center Planning to study grid capacity and forecast future needs. As of early 2026, there is little sign HB 1002 will advance. Meanwhile, NC Energy Policy Task Force found data centers account for ~80% of Duke Energy's projected demand growth. NC communities (Apex, Chatham, Gates, Canton) have enacted local moratoria as the legislature stalls. The NC Data Center Convening in Greensboro brought together 60+ advocacy groups in early 2026. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: HB 1002 was never heard in committee and is effectively dead/superseded by SB 730 (Ratepayer Protection Act) and HB 7971.