Thursday, April 25, 2013
Updates
The state House passed a bill Wednesday requiring a photo ID at the polls by 2016. This has been a hotly contested debate but looks like the Republican back bill has enough support to get to the Governor's desk.
HB298 was defeated in committee yesterday and for all intents and purposes is dead. The Committee on Public Utilities and Energy voted 18-13 on Wednesday to kill the proposal that would have ended the state’s 6-year-old policy of subsidizing solar farms and other forms of renewable energy.This bill really struck home as Cleveland County is home to several solar farms and just recently announced the creation of 300 jobs by Schletter, a company that makes rack systems for the solar farm industry. Schletter made their decision to located in North Carolina and in Cleveland County, in part, based upon the tax incentives provided by the NC Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standards. Rep. Hager, who filed the bill, said the bill would end a state policy of subsidies for industries such as wind, solar and other alternative energies. Those legislators voting against the bill were wary of dismantling a complex state policy, which had taken months to negotiate.
Senate Bill 14: Increase Access to Career/Technical Ed. was signed by Governor McCrory on February 18. This bill takes significant steps to strengthen North Carolina’s talent and workforce development by directing the state Board of Education to develop career and college endorsements for high school diplomas, increases access to career and technical education teachers in public schools, and increases community college enrollment in career and technical education in high need employment areas. Hopefully this will aid the schools and community colleges in meeting the manpower needs of our local industries. We will see how it will be implemented.
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