Major companies in North Carolina today praised the Cooper Administration for setting a strong vision for a thriving, low-carbon economy in the Tar Heel State with a newly-released Clean Energy Plan.
The plan, which calls for a 70% reduction in electric-sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 2005 levels by 2030 and for carbon neutrality by 2050, was presented to Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday by the North Carolina Climate Change Interagency Council. It also provides recommendations for how the state can achieve these goals, scale up investments in clean energy and clean transportation, and create economic opportunities for both rural and urban areas of the state.
Among the companies and institutions commending the plan’s recommendations are New Belgium Brewing, SAS, Sierra Nevada and VF Corporation. They have long supported smart clean energy policies in North Carolina that provide increased predictability, market certainty, and incentives for clean energy investment.
“Cree is committed to enabling a more sustainable future. For more than 30 years, Cree has been innovating and delivering technology solutions that enable our customers and society to do more with less. From generating efficiency gains in electric vehicles and solar energy initiatives to energy saving LEDs, our technology is at the forefront of clean energy innovation and we are committed to sustainability practices at our North Carolina operations,” said Nathan Daigle, global director, environment, health & safety at Cree. “We are proud that our home state shares in this commitment and is willing to stand behind initiatives that will have a meaningful impact in the fight against climate change while ensuring the rollout of transformative technologies that help position the state as a leader in innovation.”
“We commend North Carolina for embracing the transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Steve Fechheimer, CEO of New Belgium Brewing. "The recommendations in the North Carolina Clean Energy Plan will help the business community more easily achieve our own clean energy goals while saving money that can be reinvested in the local community. We look forward to working with state leaders to make its clean energy vision a reality.”
“SAS is deeply committed to providing a brighter future for people and the planet," said Jerry Williams, sustainability director at SAS, headquartered in Cary. "We've invested in solar and smart building technologies to reduce our energy footprint and were active participants in the Clean Energy Plan stakeholder process. We applaud the release of the Clean Energy Plan and look forward to collaborating across the state to ensure North Carolina stays at the forefront of the transition to a clean energy economy."
“At our Mills River brewery, we prioritize investments in clean energy because it makes business sense and is part of our company’s commitment to operating sustainably for almost 40 years,” said Mandi McKay, sustainability manager at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “We commend Gov. Cooper for his leadership and commitment to tackling climate change, and we hope this plan sets the stage for North Carolina to advance strong policies and programs that support clean energy investment and economic growth.”
“Addressing the impact of climate change in the communities where we work is a central tenet of VF’s purpose-led mission. Our company is committed to purchasing 100% of our power from renewable sources by 2025. As a signatory of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, VF Corp is striving for net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Jeannie Renné-Malone, vice president, Global Sustainability for VF Corporation. “We applaud Gov. Cooper’s commitment to fighting climate change and leading North Carolina’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
The North Carolina Clean Energy Plan is a requirement of Executive Order 80, which Gov. Cooper issued in October 2018 to help the state transition to a clean energy future and reduce GHG emissions. The plan was produced following multiple rounds of stakeholder engagement sessions, in which many companies, municipalities and institutions participated.
The North Carolina Climate Change Interagency Council also presented the governor with three additional plans to help the state tackle climate change and meet clean energy and clean transportation goals laid out in Executive Order 80: the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Plan to get 80,000 zero-emission vehicles on North Carolina’s roads by 2025, the Motor Fleet ZEV Plan to transition the state fleet to electric vehicles, and the Clean Energy and Clean Transportation Workforce Assessment, which illustrates the strong clean energy workforce potential in North Carolina.