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.

State Sen. Paul Newton introduced Senate Bill 261 on Tuesday with the gusto of a car salesman: “I’m here to offer you an opportunity to save North Carolina billions of dollars,” the Cabarrus County Republican said as he convened a meeting of the Senate Agriculture,