Ellen Ruff of Duke Energy today continues the spin that the “energy bill” making its way through the General Assembly is some sort of measured, balanced approach.
Nothing could be futher from the truth. All of the substantial costs of the bill land at the feet of ratepayers. And taxpayers.
Let’s be clear about this, the changes mandated by the bill would increase utility bills. The N.C. Utilities Commission itself says that ratepayers will be paying at least $2.6 billion to $3.6 billion more over the next twelve years if the bill becomes law.
But there lurks a double-whammy. Higher energy costs for entities like CMS and other government operations. Who pays for that? Taxpayers.
Maybe someone at CMS should ask the state delegation about the added cost to the public schools. Ditto the city and county.
And the bill’s absurd “wind energy” mandates could mean 200 to 400-foot tall turbines deployed in massive “wind farms” not in some vast wasteland, but in otherwise scenic parts of the state.
In sum, state legislators should run screaming from these bad ideas. But we all know that rarely — if ever — happens in Raleigh.
