North State Journal Vol. 4, Issue 25

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 25

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM |

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

Inside US Amateur comes to Pinehurst, page B1

PHOTO COURTESY DUKE ENERGY

Pictured is the H.F. Lee power plant in Goldsboro, N.C. According to records obtained by NSJ, Duke Energy requested modifications to the air quality permit at the station due to the increasing amounts of solar energy cycling on the grid. (Photo: Duke Energy)

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

El Nino fades so forecasters expect busier hurricane season Government meteorologists say this year’s hurricane season may be busier than initially expected now that summer’s weak El Nino has faded away. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said Thursday the Atlantic season looks more active than normal as peak hurricane season begins. Forecasters now expect 10 to 17 named storms, with five to nine hurricanes and two to four major ones. In May, they forecast a normal season, one or two fewer named storms and hurricanes. Forecaster Gerry Bell says the end of El Nino means more hospitable hurricane conditions. El Nino is the periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that affects weather worldwide and dampens storm activity.

AP

US budget deficit grows 27% through July The U.S. government’s budget deficit rose by $183 billion to $867 billion during the first 10 months of this budget year as spending grew more than twice as fast as tax collections. The Treasury Department say the deficit for the current fiscal year through July is up 27% from the same period a year earlier. Spending rose 8% to $3.73 trillion, and tax revenue rose 3% to $2.86 trillion. Higher federal discretionary program spending over the past two years and the $1.5 trillion tax cut have contributed to the rising gap between what the federal government spends and what it takes in. The Congressional Budget Office expects the deficit to begin exceeding $1 trillion a year in 2022.

AP

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NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

Hybrid deal brings State Health Plan fight to an end By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Last week, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) signaled an end to the fight over the changes to the State Health Plan by announcing a hybrid plan letting major hospitals and care systems operate as in-network facilities. The State Health Plan’s network for 2020 will consist of Blue Options Network and the new North Carolina State Health Plan Network. Under the hybrid plan, health care providers that failed to sign up by the Aug. 5 deadline to Folwell’s Clear Pricing Plan will be allowed to keep their existing agreements with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. According to a press release, the two network options combined will consist of more than 68,000 providers. Members of the State Health Plan can still use their provider network and will have access to new providers that were not previously part of the Blue Options Network. “We look forward to working with Treasurer Folwell and the State Health Plan to implement these changes and ensuring that teachers and state employees have uninterrupted access to quality care,” said Patrick Conway, MD, Blue Cross NC President and CEO. “The Clear Pricing Project is just the beginning. I appreciate that 28,000 providers — independent primary care providers, behavioral health providers, independent provider networks and the 5 courageous hospitals — have chosen to provide care to those who serve in state government,” said Treasurer Folwell. “These medical providers should be applauded.” See FOLWELL, page A2

“We look forward to working with Treasurer Folwell and the State Health Plan to implement these changes and ensuring that teachers and state employees have uninterrupted access to quality care.” Patrick Conway, MD, Blue Cross NC President and CEO

Duke Energy application points finger at solar for increased pollution By Dan E. Way For the North State Journal RALEIGH — A seven-month investigation and numerous public information requests have revealed the move to increase solar power might be leading to an increase in the very emissions alternative energy sources aim to reduce. Duke spokeswoman Kim Crawford confirmed that increased solar power on the state’s electric grid is increasing emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), a dangerous air pollutant. She said that reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could also reverse if current solar growth continues without policy changes. Climate advocates blame increases in manmade gases like CO2 for global warming and have promoted solar power as environmentally clean. An increase in emissions triggers the need to rethink national energy policy, experts say. Crawford provided measurements showing that even on sunny days — when solar power is at its maximum output — more NOx pollution is released into the air than would occur if no solar electricity were used and natural gas were used instead. That’s because traditional power plants — including cleaner burning natural gas plants — must scale back electric generation to accommodate solar energy surging onto the system when the sun rises, and power back up when the sun sets and solar energy dissipates. That starting and stopping reduces efficiency and incapacitates emission control devices, increasing pollutant levels. On other days solar energy is erratic and can result in more frequent cycling of reserve sources, further decreasing power plant efficiency. This increased cycling can result in increased emissions and undue wear and tear on the expensive equipment. Duke’s data create new questions for policymakers and regulators in North Carolina. The state had 4,491 megawatts (MWs) of installed solar capacity in the second quarter of 2018, second only to California. Under current law, that is expected to jump to 6,800 MW by 2025 in Duke Energy’s Carolinas and Progress regions. Renewable energy advocates insist solar energy could replace fossil fuel-burning power plants to combat climate change. North Carolina created taxpayer-funded subsidies to support solar growth. Federal

law mandates guaranteed government contracts to purchase solar power. North Carolina’s interpretation of that law gave incentives to solar operators and the state has issued 60% of the nation’s contracts under that federal mandate. “After committing $2 billion in tax credits, and more than $1 billion in electricity overpayments for solar power, we now learn from Duke that nitrogen oxides have actually increased, and that CO2 may be headed in the wrong direction,” said Donald van der Vaart, former secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and State Energy Policy Advisor in the McCrory administration. “This should shock everyone responsible for North Carolina’s air quality, and the nation’s energy policy,” van der Vaart said. “This issue deserves a re-look, and it needs to be done fast,” Dan Kish, distinguished senior fellow at the Institute for Energy Research, said after reviewing Duke’s data. “It’s great for the Wall Street fiSee DUKE ENERGY, page A2


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