Housing policy in NC is sometimes created on the basis of varying, often conflicting criteria. Without uniform guidelines for determining what constitutes substandard housing and what is adequate, housing policy is apt to be skewed and/or obsolete.
The North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation was created to coordinate between utility companies and suppliers and residents who desire on site alternative energy sources.
C. Ronald Aycock has been director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners since 1977. The association works on behalf of counties before the General Assembly and executive-branch offices. In an interview, Aycock discusses the most pressing needs of state counties, issues in local governance, and state funds.
S. Leigh Wilson has been executive director of the North Carolina League of Municipalities since 1969. The main purpose of the league is to develop a consensus for the views of municipal officials and then advocate their viewpoints. In an interview, Wilson discusses the most pressing problems for municipalities and how they are being addressed.
Regionalism is a tradition in North Carolina due to the state's three distinct regions: the coastal flatlands, the rolling Piedmont, and the western peaks. It remains to be seen whether regional approaches to planning and government can be successful in the long run.
Utility companies are diversifying into solar products, home insulation, even cable television. But, unlike other corporations, they have a state-awarded monopoly franchise for their principal product.