close
close

Candidate Josh Stein on Climate and Energy – SACE | Southern Alliance for Clean EnergySACE

Posted on by darion

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Josh Stein, the Democratic candidate for governor of North Carolina. Also in this series, we profile Republican candidate Mark Robinson.

Chris Carnevale | July 8, 2024

| Elections, Energy Policy, North Carolina

This post is part of a series examining the positions of candidates running for public office in the Southeast in 2024 on key energy and climate issues. Note: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not endorse or oppose any candidate or political party. Links to reports, candidate websites, and outside sources are provided as civic education tools.

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Josh Stein, the Democratic candidate running for governor of North Carolina. Also in this series, we profile Republican candidate Mark Robinson. Election day is November 5, 2024.

Josh Stein currently serves as the Attorney General of North Carolina after being elected to the state seat in 2016 and reelected in 2020. He previously served as a North Carolina State Senator representing part of Wake County and as a Senior Deputy Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice. Stein grew up in Chapel Hill, graduated from Chapel Hill High School, and earned degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard University.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency

As Attorney General, Stein took numerous actions to support renewable energy and energy efficiency, including:

  • Intervening in a proceeding before the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission seeking to promote the elimination of climate pollution and accelerate the retirement of coal-fired power plants while prioritizing renewable energy, reducing dependence on risky fossil gases, and lowering costs for customers;
  • Joining North Carolina residents in State Supreme Court case to ensure that homeowners’ associations cannot unreasonably prohibit residents from using solar energy in their homes;
  • Supporting policies that promote solar energy utility AND roof scales at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Climate change

On his website, Josh Stein states, “I will put North Carolina on a path to carbon neutrality by 2050. I will work to prepare our state for the impacts of climate change and natural disasters by investing in resilient infrastructure. I will continue to lead the transformation to a clean energy economy that creates good-paying jobs and keeps our communities healthy and safe.”

In 2017, Stein he said the following words to the press after President Trump withdrew the United States from the international climate agreement in Paris: “Regardless of what happens in the federal executive branch, nothing will deter me from upholding my oath to the North Carolina Constitution and its declaration to control and reduce pollution in our air and water. I am encouraged and inspired by the growing support for climate action across our state and country. Now is the time to support a clean energy future with good-paying jobs, healthier people, and a safer nation.”

Electric transport

As Attorney General Josh Stein he intervened in federal court to defend national standards limiting vehicle air pollution from legal attacks.

Energy Equity and Energy Burden

As Attorney General, Josh Stein has taken on cases at the North Carolina Utilities Commission to work toward lower energy bills. His work has included:

  • Insistence The North Carolina Public Utilities Commission has adopted a long-term energy management plan for Duke Energy that will lower customer bills and enable more clean energy than Duke proposed.
  • Aggregate to negotiate settlement with Duke Energy regarding their coal ash cleanup projects that saves customers more than $1 billion
  • Attractive Public Utility Commission’s decision to grant rate increase to Duke Energy

Stein Created Civil Rights Unit of the state Department of Justice.

High Risk Energy: Coal, Nuclear, Oil, Gas

As Attorney General, Josh Stein sought to reduce harmful pollution from power plants by defending the country’s groundbreaking legislation on coal AND mercury contamination from withdrawals. He also sued the federal government repeatedly to prevent offshore oil drilling and related exploration activities off the coast of North Carolina.

Voter Information

Election Day is November 5. Here are the important dates and deadlines to consider, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections:

  • September 6, 2024: County election boards begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who have submitted an absentee ballot application form.
  • October 11, 2024: Voter registration deadline (5:00 p.m.).*
  • October 17, 2024: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration is available.
  • October 29, 2024: Deadline for submitting applications for postal voting (5:00 p.m.).*
  • November 2, 2024: End of early voting at the company’s registered office (3:00 p.m.).
  • November 5, 2024: general election day.
  • November 5, 2024: Deadline for returning absentee ballots (7:30 p.m.).*

*Voter registration and postal voting deadlines vary for military voters and foreign citizens.

Find additional important election information Here.

—

#CandidatesOEnergy2024