"RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would prohibit local governments from adopting ordinances preventing the expansion of certain energy services based on fuel type — one of two energy bills the legislature could wrap up this week.
The measure — which runs counter to efforts in some other states to curb natural gas use and move toward electricity — next goes to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk following a House vote of 74-36.
The Senate approved the measure last week after adding language that lays out a process to decommission future utility-scale solar energy projects once they permanently cease production. The requirements would be developed by state regulators and must include a method to pay to end the project and restore the site."