§ 143-215.107E.  Prohibit cap and trade requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Neither the Governor, nor any of the agencies of the State, including the Utilities Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Environmental Management Commission, may require an electric public utility, as defined in G.S. 62-126.3(7), or persons who operate an electric generating facility the primary purpose of which is for the person's own use and not for the primary purpose of producing electricity for sale to or for the public for compensation, to participate in a program that requires such utilities to obtain allowances to offset their CO2 emissions, commonly characterized as emissions cap-and-trade programs, CO2 budget trading programs, or cap-and-invest initiatives. In addition, the Governor and the Department are expressly prohibited from entering into any agreement with other states obligating North Carolina's participation in any program requiring acquisition of allowances to offset CO2 emissions by such utilities. (2023-134, s. 12.5(a).)