§113B-1. Legislative findings and purpose

Upon investigation the General Assembly hereby finds that:

(1)        Energy is essential to the health, safety and welfare of the people of this State and to the workings of the State economy. It is in the State's best interest to support the development of a reliable and adequate supply of energy for North Carolina that is secure, stable, and predictable in order to facilitate economic growth, job creation, and expansion of business and industry opportunities.

(2),       (3) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-365, s. 8(a), effective July 29, 2013.

(3a)      It is in the State's best interest to support the exploration, development, and production of domestic energy supplies, preferably from the resources within the State or region and most certainly from within the country.

(3b)      It is the duty of State government to protect and preserve the State's natural resources, cultural heritage, and quality of life and, above all, the public health and safety of its residents during the exploration, development, and production of domestic energy resources.

(4)        The State must provide the basis for development of a long-range unified energy policy to encompass comprehensive energy resource planning and efficient management of existing energy resources in relation to economic growth, to effectively meet an energy crisis, to encourage development of alternative sources of energy that are capable of achieving a positive benefit-to-cost ratio, and to ensure efficient utilization of energy resources in a manner consistent with assuring a reliable and adequate supply of energy for North Carolina, including active support and collaboration with the federal government to ensure access to the nation's energy resources located on the outer continental shelf directly adjacent to the State's coastal waters.

(5)        It is the expressed intent of this Chapter to provide for development of such a unified domestic energy policy for the State of North Carolina as part of a nationwide effort for increased domestic energy production in the interest of national security and economic growth and stability.

(1975, c. 877, s. 3; 2013-365, s. 8(a).)