Regarding “Debate rages as Atlantic Coast Pipeline nears construction” (July 24): Duke Energy has selected natural gas (methane) to be its preferred fuel for electricity in North Carolina because huge profits can be extracted from ratepayers for building the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and future gas power plants. Duke Energy is a monopoly utility in North Carolina, and its energy miscalculations will harm us all.
Duke Energy’s heavy investment in natural gas is risky business for these reasons:
Electricity demand is projected to be flat until 2030, so why rush to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline? North Carolina already has surplus gas with the Transco gas pipeline.
Natural gas prices will eventually rise since the current low price is unsustainable for fracking companies.
Every day solar, wind and batteries become cheaper and more competitive with natural gas pricing. Cheaper batteries will revolutionize renewable energy storage. With cheap renewables and battery storage, natural gas will become too expensive.
Duke Energy must seek to avoid damage to the climate from leakage of fracked gas methane, which is 100 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Why continue the harm? Renewable energies are the moral energies that North Carolina needs.
Martha Girolami
Apex
