Dean Arp

The North Carolina House approved a bill to regulate data centers and promote nuclear power, aiming to address rising electricity costs and grid reliability. The legislation, titled the Ratepayer Protection Act, faced bipartisan discussion, with Democrats expressing concerns about over-reliance on nuclear energy and advocating for solar, wind, and battery storage as alternatives.

North Carolina House lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill to regulate data centers, mandate nuclear power for replacing baseload plants, and expedite permitting for new facilities. The rewritten Senate Bill 730, titled the 'Ratepayer Protection Act,' aims to require data centers to conduct noise and water impact studies while ensuring grid reliability.

North Carolina's House Energy and Public Utilities Committee advanced a bill to restrict data centers from shifting energy costs to consumers and require environmental impact assessments before new facilities are approved. The legislation, Senate Bill 730, mandates noise and water use studies, bans local tax incentives for data centers, and examines utility policies to address energy affordability concerns.