NC H722

Prohibits electric public utilities operating coal-fired generating units in North Carolina from purchasing or using coal extracted through mountaintop removal mining, effective January 1, 2012, with utilities required to obtain sworn statements from coal providers confirming extraction methods.

Establishes penalties for utilities violating the mountaintop removal prohibition, including denial of fuel cost recovery and potential cancellation or suspension of certificates of convenience and necessity for failure to file required monthly and annual reports.

Allows utilities to recover reasonable and prudent incremental costs incurred from purchasing non-mountaintop removal coal through an annual rider to their rates, subject to approval by the Utilities Commission.

Imposes a moratorium on issuing new certificates for coal-fired generating units filed on or after July 1, 2011, unless the unit is carbon neutral, and suspends any existing certificates for units that have not begun operations by July 1, 2011, until July 1, 2016.

Requires permits and establishes permit fees for solid waste disposal sites reusing coal combustion products or structural fill, with fees ranging from $1,500 to $50,000 for new permits depending on annual tonnage capacity, unless the end products are fully encapsulated.