Environment News Politics & Government

Governor Roy Cooper Issues Executive Order To Cut Greenhouse Gases

by Associated Press and Eddie Garcia

In a statement, Gov. Cooper said, “A strong clean energy economy combats climate change while creating good jobs and a healthy environment. With historic storms lashing our state, we must combat climate change, make our state more resilient and lessen the impact of future natural disasters.” (Gerry Broome/Associated Press)

Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order on Monday aimed at fighting climate change and increasing the number of clean energy jobs in North Carolina.

Cooper is ordering state agencies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, in the hopes of lessening the power of storms like Hurricane Florence. He signed the measure at a solar farm in Cary.

Among the governor's requests is prioritizing electric vehicles when state agencies buy or lease, with the aim of getting 80,000 zero-emission vehicles on North Carolina roads in six years. Cooper is also ordering departments under his control to cut greenhouse gases by 40 percent before 2025.

The executive order also asks the Department of Commerce to support and expand clean energy businesses and investments.

Last year, Cooper responded to President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement by joining with 14 other states in the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance. The group has pledged to keep pursuing its share of greenhouse gas reduction targets.

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