North Carolina Public Interest Research Group (NCPIRG) Education Fund is the policy arm of the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group, a left-leaning lobbying group. It produces research papers on energy, environmental, health care, and consumer issues. It is the North Carolina state affiliate of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG). ¹

NCPIRG Education Fund has advocated for price controls on pharmaceuticals, ² Amazon products, ³ and products with an environmental impact. ⁴ The group also promotes government-mandated emissions limitations from the federal and local level. ⁵

Policy Research

North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund favors price controls on pharmaceuticals, as well as weakening patent protections for pharmaceuticals. ² It also advocates for a complete federal ban on all flavored e-cigarette products. ⁶

The group produced research on COVID-19. ⁷ It also promoted reports from its national parent regarding healthcare worker safety ⁸ and restrictions on equipment repairs in hospitals. ⁹ It published a guide on avoiding high priced items on Amazon at the beginning of the pandemic. The guide advocated for price controls and encouraged readers to sign a petition against price increases on Amazon. ³

The group’s environmental research has been conducted through Environment North Carolina Research and Policy Center since 2006. ¹⁰ The Policy Center’s research advocated for state-mandated restrictions against auto and industrial emissions in North Carolina. ¹⁰

The group claims that temperatures will increase by 1.5 to 2 degrees by the end of century and calls for a transition to 100% weather-dependent wind and solar energy. The group also calls for national, state, and local governments to remove all incentives for fossil fuel production, and advocates for “zero-emissions transportation” such as electric buses. ⁵ It advocates that all buses be electric by 2030, all new cars be electric by 2035, and  bike riding to reduce auto emissions. ¹¹

NCPIRG Education Fund argues for a pollution tax to fund waste cleanup. It asserts that climate change will cause spills of toxic waste into residential communities. ¹²

It also advocates for a complete ban on single use plastics, as well as price controls so that “goods reflect the environmental” impact of those goods. The group does not explain how environmental impact-based pricing would occur. ⁴

Finances

In 2016, NCPIRG Education Fund’s revenue was $144,185, all of which came from grants and contributions. Expenses were $136,140, largely for program services. The nonprofit’s total assets are $89,616. ¹³

In March 2016, the nonprofit received a $2,500 grant from Strowd Roses, ¹⁴ a foundation that funds nonprofits.

1. “Reports.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 2, 2022.  https://ncpirgedfund.org/reports
2. “High Value Healthcare.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 20, 2022. https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/high-value-health-care-1
3. “Avoiding Covid-19 Price-Gouging.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 2, 2022.  https://uspirgedfund.org/feature/usp/avoiding-covid-19-price-gouging
4. “Zero Waste.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 20, 2022. https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/zero-waste
5. “Climate Solutions.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/climate-solutions
6. “End the Nicotine Trap.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed Jul 20, 2022.  https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/end-nicotine-trap
7. “Responding to the Covid-19 Crisis.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 2, 2022.  https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/responding-crisis
8. “Protect U.S. Healthcare Workers Now.” U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://uspirgedfund.org/feature/usf/protect-healthcare-workers
9. “Hospital Repair Restrictions.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. July 8, 2020. https://uspirg.org/reports/usp/hospital-repair-restrictions
10. Travis Madsen and Elizabeth Ouzts. “Air Pollution and Public Health in North Carolina.” Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center. February 2006. https://frontiergroup.org/sites/default/files/reports/NC-Air-Pollution–Public-Health-text–cover.pdf
11. “Transform Transportation.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fun. Accessed July 20, 2022. https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/transform-transportation-0
12. “Make Polluters Pay.” North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Accessed July 20, 2022. https://ncpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/make-polluters-pay
13. ^[1] North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2016. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/56-2152392
14. “North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (NC PIRG Education Fund)” Strowd Roses. Accessed July 2, 2022. http://www.strowdroses.org/organization/north-carolina-public-interest-research-group-education-fund-nc-pirg-education-fund/