Editor’s note: This article was updated to indicate that the NC Chamber will score this legislation as a key vote.

The NC Chamber supports Senate Bill 266: The Power Bill Reduction Act and will score it as a key vote.

As the North Carolina affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers, we recognize the importance of this critical policy, especially to a manufacturing community that requires certainty and predictability in its power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If we are to continue attracting economic investment, reliable, affordable energy must continue to be a priority.

This legislation will do that. It enables utilities to build more reliable energy resources like natural gas and nuclear power as part of an “all-the-above” approach to keep up with skyrocketing demands from always-on industries. All of this can be accomplished while still maintaining the 2050 net-zero target established by House Bill 951 in 2021.

It goes beyond certainty in the resource. The consumer protections in the bill inject a level of certainty and predictability into the pricing of our energy, which is another critical factor for continued economic investment and economic health for North Carolina families.

This marks an important advancement of policy for North Carolina to continue to provide nation-leading reliable, affordable energy for our manufacturers and residents so we can lead in economic growth and prosperity for North Carolina communities.