From: Chris Carmody <Director@ncceba.com<mailto:Director@ncceba.

com>>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 12:06:08 PM
Subject: Debt of Gratitude Owed To Represenatives. John Szoka and Larry Strickland

Dear Colleagues:

A couple of you have asked whether SB 559 will now definitely be only a study, or whether Duke will still
maneuver to get it passed without the Study.

* SB 559 is NOT finished.

* It will go to conference committee if it gets voted out of the House - probably next week.
* Sen. Berger will try to pull OUT the study language. If he succeeds, then both the Senate and the
House will have to vote to AGREE with the study language being pulled out.
* The Senate will agree. Hopefully, we will hold the line on the House. But it will take work.

On top of this, Duke Energy representatives have now told Representatives Szoka, Strickland, and Saine
that Duke intends to fund primary opponents against each of them. This on top of Duke's threat to the
Speaker to withhold all campaign contributions to the House Republican Caucus unless SB 559 is passed
As Is.

Working against Duke Energy for a level playing field is not bean bag -- especially for state elected
officials.

Best,
Chris

On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 8:30 AM Chris Carmody

<Director@ncceba.com<mailto:Director@ncceba.com>> wrote:
Dear NCCEBA Colleagues:

Yesterday afternoon, Rep. Larry Strickland stood on the floor of the NC House and successfully
introduced an amendment turning Duke Energy's multi-year rate
authorization<https://energynews.us/2019/07/24/southeast/controversial-duke-energy-ratemaking-
bill-stalls-in-north-carolina/> into a mere study. Rep. John Szoka used this opportunity to unequivocally
laid the groundwork for the utility we know is so badly needed. He discussed how current economic
incentives pit Duke Energy's interests against everyone else's, and compared Duke's Senate Bill 559 to
applying a bandaid to a bleeding artery.

Throughout this legislative Session, Reps. Szoka and Strickland have championed the interests of
ratepayers and of the renewables and cleantech industries. In addition to dealing a body blow to Senate
Bill 559, they have

* Helped NCCEBA defuse the destructive solar and wind decommissioning bill put forward by Senator
Paul Newton
* Advanced the discussion of creating wholesale energy markets in the Carolinas
* Advocated for our industry to have substantial control over our own investments in energy storage
* Subverted Sen. Harry Brown's job killing anti-wind power bill
* Taken the first step to insure competition in electric vehicle charging

What can we do to defend our champions?

In today's attempt to pass this bill, Duke Energy made no changes to SB 559. Instead, Duke lobbyists
simply threatened legislators that the company would seek revenge in the upcoming campaign season.
We need to be prepared for Duke's efforts to unseat renewable energy champions. Here's what your
company can do:

1) Contribute directly to Rep. Szoka: Sept. 25 at Solar Power International, we will be holding a joint
reception with SEIA for Rep. Szoka and South Carolina Senator Tom Davis, an important reformer in our
field (invitation for the Szoka portion of the event attached). If you aren't attending SPI, please send
them a contribution<http://www.szokafornchouse.com> with the notation 'NCCEBA Member'

* Please keep in mind that Rep. Szoka may only accept personal (not corporate) checks -- with a max
of $5,200 per election cycle.
* If you're interested in supporting Sen. Davis, we can get you more information about SC campaign
finance rules -- which do allow corporate contributions.

2) Contribute to the NCCEBA Political Action Committee: We need your support to help Rep. Strickland
and other House and Senate members who have stood by our industry. Please consider having your
team make personal checks only out to the NCCEBA PAC or donating through our link
here<https://secure.piryx.com/donate/lTrbVuWi/NC-Clean-Energy-Business-Alliance-PAC/>.

3) Contribute to the Alliance for Energy Security, NCCEBA's 501c4. Through the Alliance, which may
accept corporate checks, we can take direct action to support our champions along the lines we took to
support Senators Steinburg, Sawyer, and Ballard in the last election cycle.

Checks to either the NCCEBA PAC or the Alliance for Energy Security should be sent to the same mailing
address:

ATTN: Chris Carmody

811 Ninth Street
Suite 120-158
Durham, NC 27705

We have never been in a stronger position to bring a business friendly environment for renewables to
the Carolinas. Let's roll up our sleeves (and open our checkbooks) for the year ahead.

Very best,
Chris Carmody

North Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance

811 Ninth Street, Suite 120-158
Durham, NC 27705