North Carolina
Spectrum News 1 Poll: How do the people of N.C. feel about the economy
A brand new Spectrum Information 1/IPSOS ballot discovered inflation is the largest concern for registered voters in North Carolina, adopted by inexpensive housing.
Inflation hit a 40-year excessive in america final month, with the buyer value index leaping 8.5% in March over a yr in the past. Costs continued to extend for gasoline, hire and meals.
The brand new ballot discovered 65% of registered voters in North Carolina have needed to reduce on spending resulting from rising costs.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have visited North Carolina in latest weeks, and each have talked about rising costs for People. The federal authorities’s function in inflation will likely be a giant subject for debate this yr as candidates vie for North Carolina’s open seat within the U.S. Senate and 14 seats within the Home.
The brand new ballot reveals inflation has changed the COVID-19 pandemic as the principle downside going through North Carolina. A majority of voters, 54%, mentioned rising prices is the largest difficulty, adopted by inexpensive housing, which was cited by 30% of registered voters.
Simply 10% of registered voters nonetheless mentioned COVID-19 was the largest downside going through North Carolina, when given an inventory of 15 points to select from within the ballot.
The ballot, launched Monday, surveyed 1,158 registered voters in North Carolina between March 31 and April 12. It has a margin of error of 4.2%. It included questions in regards to the financial system, the coronavirus pandemic, the struggle in Ukraine, schooling and inflation.
Each Democrats and Republicans cited inflation as their principal concern, however Republicans are extra targeted on inflation relatively than different points. Two-thirds of Republicans mentioned inflation is the largest downside going through North Carolina, in comparison with 44% of Democrats.
When requested what the highest priorities must be for North Carolina’s subsequent senator, 42% mentioned rising costs. Ballot respondents had been requested to call as much as two points they hope the state’s subsequent senator ought to deal with in Washington D.C.
The US financial system got here in second with 19%, adopted by well being care, schooling and jobs. Simply 11% mentioned election integrity, and the identical quantity mentioned voting rights, which had been hot-button points, at the least for elected officers in Congress.
With most consideration on inflation and rising costs, 82% of respondents within the ballot mentioned they’re spending extra on gasoline than earlier than.
The ballot discovered individuals are making ready for costs on the pump to remain excessive, with 35% saying they anticipate costs to maintain rising. One other 31% mentioned they assume costs will keep about the place they’re.
A minority of registered voters within the ballot, 22%, mentioned they thought costs would lower again to the place they had been earlier than the struggle started in Ukraine.
When requested about how their spending habits have modified, 73% say they’re spending extra on groceries than earlier than. On housing, the place costs take longer to extend, 38% mentioned they’re spending extra and 49% mentioned spending had stayed about the identical.
With rising costs on on a regular basis items, many individuals have opted to chop again on issues like holidays and leisure. Within the ballot, 29% mentioned they had been spending much less on leisure, like going to the films and concert events, and taking holidays. Twenty-eight p.c mentioned they had been spending about the identical quantity, and 22% mentioned they had been spending extra.
When requested who or what was in charge for rising costs, the outcomes had been blended. For gasoline costs, 34% mentioned President Biden was accountable and 30% cited the struggle in Ukraine.
For rising costs for pharmaceuticals, 32% blamed companies and firms, whereas one other 19% blamed the president.
On meals costs, 41% blamed “provide chain points,” and 24% mentioned Biden was accountable.
For rising housing prices, 22% faulted companies and firms, 21% mentioned the president was most in charge, and 15% mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic was accountable.
Inflation reveals no indicators of letting up. If costs proceed to rise by way of the summer time, inflation may very well be a key difficulty within the midterm elections in November.
The ballot reveals the eye of registered voters in North Carolina has shifted from COVID-19 to inflation, housing costs and different home financial points. The query for voters will likely be which get together and which candidates do they assume can assist carry inflation down and proceed to rebuild the financial system after the pandemic.
North Carolina
NC Senate passes CPACE funding program to make clean energy upgrades more accessible
The legislature advanced a new financing program Thursday that aims to make clean energy upgrades more accessible, including rooftop solar, energy efficient HVAC systems, and LED lighting.
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) financing allows businesses to borrow money for upgrades and pay it back over time through a small increase in property taxes.
Clean energy advocates, including Matt Abele with the North Carolina Clean Energy Association, applaud the move.
“It’s a monumental step in clean energy here in North Carolina,” Abele said.
More than 38 states have already passed legislation for CPACE programs and more than $2 billion in projects have been financed nationwide, according to the Department of Energy.
“This is going to help those businesses put more money back into their pocket, be able to pay their employees more money, and continue to reinvest in the communities that they are already invested in,” Abele said.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell has strongly opposed efforts to introduce a state C-PACE program in recent years.
“CPACE is a form of predatory lending,” Folwell said. “It manipulates the free market to incentivize small businesses to be offered loans that will have higher interest rates and a higher rate of default. It’s also particularly concerning that when used for so-called green energy projects, that by the time the borrower has a problem, the lender is far removed from the transaction and has no liability if the project never meets its cost savings targets, leaving small business owners holding the bag to keep paying for something that isn’t working.”
Supporters say the treasurer’s concerns apply more to PACE lenders in the residential sector.
“It’s a voluntary option for commercial entities who are looking for an additional opportunity to finance the system,” Abele said. He also noted that clean energy upgrades could help businesses be more resilient in the face of climate change.
“It’s not only a clean energy and sustainability tool, it’s also a resiliency and a bottom line tool for businesses to decrease their utility bills and keep their doors open in the face of increasingly severe storms coming through the region,” Abele said.
North Carolina
Krystal Opens New Store at a Circle K in Wilson, North Carolina
Circle K is making it easy for commuters and travelers along two major highway arteries to refresh, fill up and charge up.
The global convenience store chain celebrated the reopening of its location at I-95 and Raleigh Rd. Parkway on Wednesday, June 26, to include the largest bank of EV fast chargers in North Carolina as well as the state’s first Krystal restaurant.
To mark the occasion, representatives of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce joined Circle K and Krystal leaders and cut the ribbon at 11 a.m. On opening day, customers enjoyed samples of food, prize raffles, giveaways and fun kids’ activities; free EV charging all day long; and a 40-cent per gallon discount on fuel from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Located at 4940 Raleigh Rd. Pkwy near I-95 exit 121 close to the I-587 interchange, the 6,781-square-foot store employs 25 team members and includes:
- A fuel canopy with 18 pumps serving Circle K gasoline and diesel fuel
- Five lanes of high-speed diesel offering DEF, along with a CAT Scale and truck parking
- The largest Electronic Vehicle charging site in North Carolina, with 20 Tesla and 5 Circle K charging spots
- A 2,000 square-foot Krystal’s Restaurant.
Krystal is known as the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South, serving up fresh, hot sliders on signature square buns since 1932. The Wilson Circle K location is operated by Circle K staff, offering around-the-clock service, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night menus.
Inside the store, in addition to a full range of branded snacks and packaged beverages, ice cold beer, age-restricted offerings and clean restrooms, customers can enjoy grab and go fresh food, fast sandwiches, burgers and snacks, 100% sustainably sourced coffee freshly ground to order, ice cold Polar Pop favorites, and signature Froster frozen drinks, as well as a wide range of convenience items.
“We are on a mission to make our customers’ lives a little easier every day, and this site does so in a big way for local customers as well as interstate travelers,” said Will Rice, Circle K Vice President of Operations, Coastal Carolinas Region. “We’re excited to bring this new experience to Wilson, meeting the needs of EV drivers and truck drivers alike, as well as a Krystal restaurant and updated store experience to enjoy while you’re plugged in or filling up.”
North Carolina
Undecided voters in North Carolina frustrated by first 2024 presidential debate
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