Subject: An opportunity for common ground; seeking your support for federal investigation on methane emissions cover-up, scientific fraud
Dear Ms. Good,
NC WARN seeks your support to help gain a full understanding and correction of the climate-disrupting methane emissions from hundreds of thousands of sources throughout the US natural gas industry. Specifically, I ask that you write a letter to the EPA Inspector General to support the need for investigation as called for in the complaint filed by NC WARN on June 8, 2016, which is attached.
Although Duke Energy has had an increasingly rocky relationship with NC WARN and allies over the years, I hope you will take this opportunity to agree on a focused common purpose. The emerging knowledge that methane leakage and venting have made the natural gas industry the leading US driver of global warming is daunting. But reducing emissions is an essential part of averting the tipping point leading to climate and social chaos, a threshold scientists believe we will cross within four years unless drastic changes are made.
As you know, NC WARN’s focused mission is to persuade or require Duke Energy to abandon its plans to expand fossil fuel usage. However, since you are burning much gas already, I trust that you will support efforts to curtail leakage and venting across the US. To the extent that you continue seeking to build large gas-burning plants and pipelines – and acquire Piedmont Natural Gas – I urge you to take a leadership role to help minimize impacts on gas facility workers and neighbors, and on the climate, particularly since reducing methane emissions is quite feasible and cost effective.
Finally, I am quite aware that the methane emissions issue we’ve been helping expose since last summer complicates the US transition from fossil fuels. Once again I reiterate NC WARN’s fervent interest in cooperating with Duke Energy toward averting the climate tipping point. I urge you to use this opportunity to forge a new type of shared decision-making that respects both public involvement and the input of independent experts about how to proceed with our energy future. The climate changes already locked in will challenge the world community’s ability to learn how to cooperate. Duke Energy and the nonprofits of North Carolina could become an inspiring model for others. Let’s at least talk privately about this request.
To be clear, NC WARN is making this letter public. Similarly, we encourage you to publicize your response regarding the EPA Inspector General and your recent thinking on the climate crisis.
Sincerely,
Jim Warren
Executive Director
NC WARN