Jennifer Balkcom on Climate & Energy: Where the Candidates Stand

Jennifer Balkcom, the Republican running for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, has a voting record in the state legislature that touches on electricity policy, though not directly on home energy upgrades or rebates. As a state representative, she voted for Senate Bill 266 in 2025, which slowed Duke Energy's rollout of renewable energy, dropped a 2030 goal for cutting climate pollution from the utility, and shifted some electric-system costs onto residential customers rather than large corporate customers. The bill also let utilities charge customers for new nuclear and gas power plants before those plants generate any electricity, an option not extended to renewable energy projects.

She also voted for Senate Bill 730 in 2026, which bars utilities from retiring old coal or gas plants until they get approval to build a new nuclear plant, and which puts new regulations on data centers.

Her positions on electric transportation and on energy affordability for households were not found in public records or her campaign materials. None of this points to a specific rebate or upgrade program for homeowners, but the cost-shifting provision in Senate Bill 266 could affect how much residential customers pay on their electric bills compared to large corporate users.

North Carolina's 11th District election falls on November 3. Voter registration closes October 9, early in-person voting runs October 15 through October 31, and absentee ballots must be requested by October 20 and returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.