NC Sen. Paul Newton, a point person on energy legislation, is leaving the General Assembly

Sen. Paul Newton, the chamber’s Republican point person on energy legislation, is retiring from the legislature effective Wednesday. 

Newton, a retired Duke Energy executive, was first elected to the Senate from Cabarrus County in 2016. He is now the chamber’s majority leader. 

An announcement posted on Medium said Newton is “leaving to pursue an opportunity outside of state government.”

Newton has been a key debater and explainer of new energy laws. This year, he was a leader on the bill to erase an intermediate goal for Duke Energy to cut its carbon emissions. 

He has also helped lead redistricting and elections committees, defending Senate redistricting plans and Republican elections changes. In 2021, he helped tank former Gov. Roy Cooper’s nominee to lead the state Department of Environmental Quality. 

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Cabarrus County for nearly a decade,” Newton said in a statement.

“During that time, I’ve been able to play a small role in so many consequential pieces of legislation that have made an incredible impact on the lives of North Carolinians — from significantly reducing the tax burden for all families and supporting businesses of all sizes, to expanding educational opportunities.”

Senate leader Phil Berger praised Newton as a “valued voice and leader in the Republican caucus.”

“He’s provided a calm presence and wise counsel to many legislators during his time in Raleigh,” Berger said in a statement. “He was always willing to tackle the tough subjects and never wavered from his convictions.”