State of North Carolina Archives: on Energy & Oil
Cheri Beasley:
Reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030
Cheri supports investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, expanding our renewable energy industry and ensuring that workers across North Carolina receive the training they need for clean energy jobs.
There is also more to be done modernizing our electrical grid and building codes to increase energy efficiency. Cheri will support efforts to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
Source: 2022 N.C. Senate campaign website CheriBeasley.com
Dec 1, 2021
Elaine Marshall:
Opposes drilling off coast due to disastrous risks
The candidates had differences on offshore oil drilling. Marshall said lawmakers like Burr had allowed deepwater drilling despite the "disastrous" risks that are now apparent. The well gushing into the Gulf is a deepwater well. Marshall said she opposes
drilling off North Carolina's coast.Burr said oil companies had been forced to go into the riskier territory because they were "chased" away from land drilling and shallow water drilling. He said officials need to ensure that deepwater drilling is saf
before quickly allowing it to continue. President Obama's administration had imposed a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, but a federal judge struck it down. The government is appealing that decision.
But ending such drilling entirely, Burr said, would lead to economic disaster."You'll have no economic growth," he said. "You'll have no job expansion. You'll have a contraction like you've never dreamed of."
Source: Sun-News coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 26, 2010
Elaine Marshall:
Big Oil polluted the Gulf, & polluted the politics around it
Marshall described Burr as beholden to special interests. Marshall, who repeatedly described herself as "a strong independent voice," called him one of the top recipients of "big-oil dollars." Marshall said, "Big oil has not only polluted the gulf, it's
polluted the politics around it."Burr has received $78,200 this election from political action committees representing oil and gas companies, according to the Center for Responsible Politics. Ten senators have received more.
Source: Charlotte Observer coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 27, 2010
Elizabeth Dole:
Release 1/3 of the nation's strategic petroleum reserve
Hagan twice linked Dole to tax breaks for big oil companies that have given back nothing but $4-a-gallon gas. Dole didn't convincingly evade the charge but offered a good retort that Hagan had suggested nothing that would reduce gas prices.
The Republican then proposed releasing one-third of the nation's strategic petroleum reserve. The current inventory is just over 700 million barrels.
Source: 2008 N.C. Senate Debate reported in Greensboro News-Record
Jun 25, 2008
Kay Hagan:
No tax breaks for big oil companies that give us $4 gas
Hagan twice linked Dole to tax breaks for big oil companies that have given back nothing but $4-a-gallon gas. Dole didn't convincingly evade the charge but offered a good retort that Hagan had suggested nothing that would reduce gas prices.
The Republican then proposed releasing one-third of the nation's strategic petroleum reserve. The current inventory is just over 700 million barrels.
Source: 2008 N.C. Senate Debate reported in Greensboro News-Record
Jun 25, 2008
Kay Hagan:
Opposed offshore drilling until August compromise
[In this Dole ad, called "Ka-Ching",] Hagan's stand on drilling is linked to her ownership of oil wells.Quote: "Kay is against offshore drilling."
Facts: Earlier in the campaign,
Hagan opposed lifting a federal moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coastline. In early August, she reversed herself, saying she supports a bipartisan
compromise that would allow states to decide on offshore drilling, promote alternative energy and repeal oil company tax credits. Dole, who had previously supported the moratorium as well, reversed herself in June.
Note:
The ad portrays Hagan as part of "Big Oil" because she and her husband own oil and gas wells valued somewhere between $90,000 and $300,000. That's a pretty far cry from the billions a company such as ExxonMobil has in assets.
Source: 2008 N.C. Senate Debate: ad analysis, Raleigh News&Observer
Sep 17, 2008
Marjorie K. Eastman:
Capitalize on renewable energy, creating jobs
Clean energy jobs were long considered an industry of the future. That future is now, and we must capitalize on this valuable opportunity to harness the power of our environment while creating thousands of jobs.
Marjorie will lead from the front to bring our best and brightest minds together as we tackle how to make energy cleaner and more reliable, which will make our economy and country stronger.
Source: 2021 N.C. Senate campaign website MarjorieKEastman.com
Oct 20, 2021
Pat McCrory:
Develop offshore resources, plus natural gas exploration
Pat McCrory believes North Carolina can create much-needed jobs that will help fuel North Carolina's economic recovery by safely and aggressively pursuing an "all-of-the-above" energy plan.
Biofuels, clean coal, natural gas, solar, wind and nuclear energy are vital components to a prosperous energy future in North Carolina. We must harness all of these resources in a safe, reliable and cost effective way.
As governor, Pat McCrory will establish a partnership with neighboring states to develop offshore resources and recruit companies to bring a much-needed infusion of energy, jobs and investment to the state. Under a McCrory administration,
North Carolina will establish the regulatory framework for natural gas exploration and signal to outside companies that North Carolina is getting into the energy business.
Source: N.C. Governor 2012 campaign website, patmccrory.com
Nov 6, 2012
Sandy Smith:
Let the free market work on green energy
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Prioritize green energy"?
A: Strongly Oppose, the government doesn't need to pick winners and losers, let the free market work.
Source: OnTheIssues.org interview of 2020 N.C. Senate candidates
Jul 21, 2019
Richard Burr:
Ending offshore drilling leads to economic disaster
The candidates had differences on offshore oil drilling. Marshall said lawmakers like Burr had allowed deepwater drilling despite the "disastrous" risks that are now apparent. The well gushing into the Gulf is a deepwater well. Marshall said she opposes
drilling off North Carolina's coast.Burr said oil companies had been forced to go into the riskier territory because they were "chased" away from land drilling and shallow water drilling. He said officials need to ensure that deepwater drilling is saf
before quickly allowing it to continue. President Obama's administration had imposed a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, but a federal judge struck it down. The government is appealing that decision.
But ending such drilling entirely, Burr said, would lead to economic disaster."You'll have no economic growth," he said. "You'll have no job expansion. You'll have a contraction like you've never dreamed of."
Source: Sun-News coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 26, 2010
Roy Cooper:
North Carolina a leader in the global clean energy economy
As we sit here tonight, North Carolina is cementing its place as a leader in the global clean energy economy--no longer the industry of the future, but the flourishing business of today. North Carolina is a clean energy destination, bringing good
paying manufacturing jobs to parts of our state that years ago knew more factory closures than ribbon cuttings. The private sector electric vehicle market is about to take the world by storm and North Carolina is riding the first wave.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the N.C. legislature
Mar 6, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026