Solar energy producers and buyers are pushing back on North Carolina’s decision to pause new solar projects — arguing the utility commission violated proper procedure and that its actions would harm commercial and industrial energy customers.
In a filing Thursday morning, the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association — whose members include major developers and buyers such as Clearway, Google and Duke University — asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to withdraw its recent order pausing 2026 solar power procurements.
The solar pause was enacted solely by Chair William Brawley, rather than the full commission, without the requisite notice and comment period — in violation of North Carolina statute, CCEBA general counsel John Burns argues in the petition for reconsideration.
“The Chairman does not have the authority under Chapter 62 of the North Carolina General Statutes to act individually to modify the decision or directives of a prior order,” Burns wrote.
