NC H130

Cities and counties are prohibited from adopting ordinances that ban or restrict consumers' choice of energy service based on type or source (natural gas, renewable gas, hydrogen, propane, electricity) or the sale and installation of appliances for cooking, space heating, water heating, or similar uses.

Local ordinances that violate these energy choice protections are declared invalid, though cities and counties may still choose energy for their own property, recover permit review costs, manage city/county-owned utilities, and honor contracts executed before this law's effective date.

Owners of utility-scale solar projects (2 megawatts AC or larger) must establish financial assurance and submit decommissioning plans to the Department of Environmental Quality to ensure proper removal of equipment and site restoration within one year of cessation of operations.

Solar project owners must disconnect from the power grid, remove and recycle all practicable components (photovoltaic modules, racking systems, cables, transformers, inverters, batteries), and restore property to its pre-project condition or an alternative condition agreed upon with the landowner.

Registration requirements with the Department begin November 1, 2025, and apply to all utility-scale solar projects; decommissioning plan and financial assurance requirements apply to new projects and existing projects that are rebuilt or expanded after the effective date.