In a move that could influence the future of utilities in North Carolina, Treasurer Brad Briner has put forth a nomination for the Utilities Commission, selecting Donald van der Vaart, a figure with a substantial background in energy and environmental sectors. According to an announcement from the North Carolina Treasurer's Office, van der Vaart is not only steeped in engineering and law, but also carries experience from roles on the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board and the state’s own Environmental Management Commission.
In a statement obtained by the North Carolina Treasurer's Office, Treasurer Briner highlighted the nominee's credentials, asserting "North Carolinians need a strong voice on the North Carolina Utilities Commission," and voicing his belief that van der Vaart's "expertise and leadership will ensure that the citizens of North Carolina have access to low-cost, reliable energy."; this nomination comes on the heels of Senate Bill 382, recently passed into law, which grants the Treasurer power to appoint a member to the Commission. Van der Vaart steps away from his current role as the Chief Judge and Director at the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, into a position that could shape the regulatory landscape of utilities statewide.
For his part, van der Vaart expressed gratitude and readiness to tackle the responsibilities that come with this new role. "I am deeply honored by Treasurer Briner’s confidence in me," he told the North Carolina Treasurer's Office, adding his commitment "to ensure that North Carolina’s energy future remains reliable, affordable, and ever cleaner—safeguarding both our prosperity and our environment."
The North Carolina Utilities Commission holds the reins over a broad spectrum of utility sectors in the state, ranging from electricity and natural gas providers to ferries and household goods movers, the decisions it makes reverberates across the lives of all who call North Carolina home, influencing not just price points but also the very quality of the services upon which daily life hinges. Before van der Vaart can assume his seat, though, his nomination demands the green light from both the state House of Representatives and Senate, a process initiated after a formal letter was sent to legislative leadership earlier today.
