North Carolina appropriates $14.5 million for clean energy grants and establishes innovation research fund

Original title: Clean Energy Grants.

Last action · April 8, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Aisha Dew and 14 others

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina appropriates $14.5 million in for the 2025-2026 to fund clean energy innovation grants and small business development, effective July 1, 2025. Specifically, $10 million goes to a newly established NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund, and $4.5 million is allocated to the One North Carolina Fund. The funds target private businesses with fewer than 100 employees, nonprofits, local governments, and State agencies.

Why it matters

Local small businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and state agencies gain access to $14.5 million in state grants for clean energy and energy efficiency projects, with unspent funds reverting to the General Fund after June 30, 2027.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

private businesses with fewer than 100 employees

Eligible to apply for and receive clean energy innovation and research grants from the newly established fund.

Directly affected

nonprofit organizations

Eligible to receive grants from the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund.

Directly affected

local governments

Eligible to receive grants from the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund.

Directly affected

State agencies

Eligible to receive grants from the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund.

Key Facts

Appropriates $10,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce for the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund.
Appropriates $4,500,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce for the One North Carolina Fund to support clean energy and energy efficiency innovation.
Establishes the NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund as a special revenue fund in the Department of Commerce, administered by its Office of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Authorizes grants from the new fund to private businesses with fewer than 100 employees, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and State agencies.

Show all 7 facts

Permits the Department of Commerce to use up to $100,000 or 5% annually, whichever is greater, from the new fund for administrative expenses.
Requires any appropriated funds not spent or encumbered by June 30, 2027, to revert to the General Fund.
Sets the effective date of the act as July 1, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to receive grants from the new NC Clean Energy Innovation and Research Fund?

Private businesses with fewer than 100 employees, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and State agencies are eligible to receive grants.

What happens to unspent grant funds after June 30, 2027?

Any funds appropriated by the act that are not spent or encumbered by June 30, 2027, revert to the General Fund.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 8, 2025House
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 8, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 7, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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