Senate Bill 261, known as the Energy Security and Affordability Act, passed its second and third readings in the Senate Thursday and will head to the House for further discussion.

Critics say it could do the exact opposite, potentially leaving North Carolinians paying billions of dollars for power plants that never actually get built. But those critics were out-voted Thursday.

Republican senators introduced a bill entitled “Energy Security and Affordability Act,” SB 261, which would repeal state requirements for Duke Energy to meet carbon reduction by 2030.