North Carolina seeks to fight global warming war via incentives, efficiency

[Doondoo]

As governments around the world look for ways to fight global warming, North Carolina lawmakers are eyeing a simple set of green guidelines that supporters hope will be the first steps in a successful war against greenhouse gases. A blue-ribbon panel that has spent the past year discussing climate change is to meet Thursday to draw up an interim report for state lawmakers on possible actions North Carolina can take to address global warming.

The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change has 16 options on the table meant to help reduce greenhouse gases, ranging from making government buildings more energy efficient to providing technical help and education for the public. Another two dozen options, winnowed from hundreds of ideas presented in commission meetings over the past year, are still being polished by a state Department of Environment and Natural Resources advisory group. They'll be considered for the panel's final report due in April 2008.

"The concept was to get the easy pieces out during this interim report," said Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, one of nine state lawmakers on the 34-member commission, which includes scientists, representatives of utility companies and business groups, and environmentalists.

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North Carolina's commission will look first at actions that can be taken by homeowners and other power consumers, by energy providers and in a hybrid category of consumers, providers and government.

One suggests a small fee on electricity usage - "a sub-cent per kilowatt hour" - that would encourage consumers to use less power, said Jim Southerland of the state Division of Air Quality. The funds would keep utility profits up despite decreased use, and would help finance energy efficiency programs such as loans for cleaner-running appliances or home insulation.

"It's kind of a win-win. They maintain their profits, and the users save money and energy by implementing these various improvements," said Southerland, who helps coordinate the North Carolina Climate Action Plan Advisory Group, created to provide the commission with detailed proposals.



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