This article was written and published by Fayetteville Observer
State Rep. John Szoka of Cumberland County received the 2017 Energy Market Access Award on Tuesday from organizations that advocate for clean energy.
Szoka was lauded for his passage this year of the Competitive Energy Solutions for N.C. Act, a law that is designed to expand solar power use in North Carolina.
The law also has a provision that temporarily restricts expansion of wind power installations. Szoka disagreed with that provision, which was added by the state Senate. But he accepted it as a compromise to ensure passage of his solar energy legislation.
The Energy Market Access Award was presented at a luncheon held in Greensboro by the the Conservatives for Clean Energy organization and the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy group.