SE North Carolina News

State Sen. Michael Lee (R), who is running for re-election to the District 7 seat on the North Carolina State Senate, was named a Champion for Clean Energy by the Conservatives for a Clean Energy Future (CCEF).

Lee was designated as a 2024 Champion for Clean Energy by an August 12 press release from CCEF. This title is awarded to individuals who "have shown exceptional leadership in promoting policies that not only address energy production and consumption challenges but also ensure economic growth and national security. These champions are pivotal to shaping a policy environment conducive to innovation and responsible environmental stewardship."

According to their website, the CCEF "works with policymakers and stakeholders across the nation to promote policies that secure affordable, reliable, and increasingly efficient and clean energy." The CCEF advocates for "commonsense, market-driven energy policies" that will help to create jobs and lower energy costs for consumers. 

In September 2022, Port City Daily published Lee's responses to a candidate questionnaire concerning his stances on various issues. With regard to energy, Lee said that he would continue to "encourage an all-of-the-above energy policy that bolsters renewable energy while ensuring that energy consumers pay the lowest cost available." He also said that he supported offshore wind energy, provided that the turbines are not visible from beaches, do not have any negative environmental impact, and would not be subsidized by taxpayers.

Lee has previously supported legislation to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality for electric public utilities by 2050. "This critical legislation ensures that our environmental goals are met through the most cost-effective and reliable methods available," he said on his campaign website. "By implementing performance-based regulations and utilizing financial strategies like bond securitization for the early retirement of coal plants, we are protecting our environment while also keeping electricity affordable for all North Carolinians."

Lee is running for re-election during the November 5 general election later this year, and will be facing Democratic candidate David Hill. Lee has represented District 7 in the North Carolina State Senate since January 1, 2023. Prior to that, he represented District 9 from January 2015 to January 2019 and again from January 2021 to January 2023.