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ElectriCities speaks out against Barnes’ Rocky Mount bill

ElectriCities of North Carolina opposes state Sen. Lisa Barnes’ push to impose additional restrictions on how Rocky Mount’s government uses the revenue from its power and gas utilities. Barnes’ Senate Bill 1076 “undermines a system that is already lawful, limited and overseen,” says Rhian Ray, ElectriCities’ government affairs manager. The...

By Ray Gronberg

May 14, 2026

The view of I-77 from Raleigh

Senate leader Phil Berger is less than impressed by the Charlotte City Council’s reversal of its support for adding toll lanes to Interstate 77 from downtown to the South Carolina border. The council’s 6-5 vote earlier this week could — if it holds up — set the stage for the...

By Ray Gronberg

May 14, 2026

Bill targeting Chinese land buys is on the move

House and Senate members are coming together on a bill that would put much of North Carolina off-limits for purchase by some foreign-owned companies. Senate Bill 394 cleared the House’s Judiciary 2 committee on Tuesday, just a couple hours after Senate Judiciary discussed a parallel bill. It’s now on its...

By Ray Gronberg

May 13, 2026

GOP leaders agree to tax, worker-raise budget framework

House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger have a deal on state-employee salaries and tax policy that clears the way for legislators to finally finish their work on the state’s 2025-27 budget. Teachers and law enforcement are in line for big raises, with most everyone else on the...

By Ray Gronberg

May 13, 2026

ABC bill bolsters canned cocktails

This year’s ABC bill could put premixed cocktail brands like Cutwater and High Noon on grocery store shelves, just like beer and wine. The idea is already drawing opposition not just from temperance advocates like the Rev. Mark Creech, but from trade groups like the N.C. Beer & Wine Wholesalers...

By Ray Gronberg

May 13, 2026

Reports highlight top lobbying spends of 2024

Duke Energy, the NC Chamber and Blue Cross topped the state’s list of big spenders on lobbyists in calendar 2024, according to a Carolina Forwardanalysis of the statistics reported to the state. Reports to Secretary of State Elaine Marshall’s office indicate that Duke spent $957,622 on lobbying in 2024. The...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Hall on WakeMed/Atrium merger

House Speaker Destin Hall isn’t inclined to join the parade of elected officials criticizing the proposed WakeMed/Atrium hospital-system merger. “Both of them certainly know what they’re doing, and I imagine they’ll get it figured out, one way or the other, and I hope they do that without us having to...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Carolinas sitting on a pile of lithium?

There could be enough lithium ore under the Carolinas and the rest of the U.S. East Coast to supply U.S. needs for 328 years at current rates, U.S. Geological Survey scientists estimate. That’d be enough to kit out 2.9 million new electric vehicles with batteries, they say in a new...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Clean-energy groups seek reversal of Utilities Commission ruling

Solar-power advocates want the N.C. Utilities Commission to reverse an order from Chairman Bill Brawley that directed Duke Energy to “defer” its 2026 solar procurement. The Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association argues Brawley exceeded his authority by acting without giving public notice that he was considering the move. State law...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Boliek frets about Charlotte airport, stadium, water-project borrowing

State Auditor Dave Boliek thinks Charlotte’s government is borrowing entirely too much money. The latest such request, reviewed and approved by the Local Government Commission on Tuesday, involves money to pay for upgrades to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. These include the construction of a new, fourth north-south runway and the...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Barnes: Rocky Mount “not a good steward”

Nash County’s only state senator says she filed a bill that would forbid Rocky Mount from using electric-utility revenue to shore up its general fund because the city “has proven that it’s not a good steward of taxpayer funds.” It’s thus necessary to “ensure every penny our rural neighbors outside Rocky...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

WARN attacks Stein

Gov. Josh Stein attempted veto last year of Senate Bill 266 and its relaxation of the state’s carbon-reduction targets gets him no credit with one of North Carolina’s more vocal environmental groups. Stein is “complicit in Duke Energy’s crimes,” N.C. WARN leader Jim Warren said on Tuesday as he and...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

“Free Our Spirits”: Group calls for ABC system change

North Carolina’s liquor-control laws are antiquated and need a major overhaul, to allow more retailers to join local ABC stores in selling gin, rum, bourbon and other distilled beverages, the backers of a new PR drive argue. “Break up the monopoly,” the backers of the “Free Our Spirits” campaign say....

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Zenger on Meta

Meta’s lobbyists “introduced us” to the idea of adding app stores to the list of online platforms that will have age restrictions if House Bill 301 passes, lead sponsor Rep. Jeff Zenger says. Zenger also isn’t too worried about the possibility that the social-media giant — the parent company of...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026

Data-center tax breaks inch closer to chopping block

It’s looking increasingly possible state officials will reel in at least some of tax breaks and other incentives they’ve made available to would-be data-center builders. House Speaker Destin Hall says his chamber “is going to take some action on that” during this year’s session. Echoing Gov. Josh Stein, Hall said...

By Ray Gronberg

May 12, 2026