In a motion filed yesterday, NC WARN, Greenpeace and the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League thanked the NC Utilities Commission for its May 10 order questioning Duke’s compliance with state rules requiring “the least cost mix of generation and demand‑reduction measures which is achievable” and called on state regulators to schedule full hearings over discrepancies between statutory requirements, Duke’s official filings and public statements made by CEO Jim Rogers.
Duke Energy CEO calls for competitive bids for NC solar sales — Charlotte Business Journal
N.C. Utilities Commission Challenges Duke Energy on Long-Term Plan
Greenpeace, NC WARN and NC Interfaith Power and Light thank the North Carolina Utilities Commission for challenging Duke Energy to provide an explanation for why the company is not pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy that would result in lower rates for North Carolina’s families and small businesses.
Duke suspends plans for Shearon Harris expansion — WRAL
Duke Energy notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Thursday that it is suspending its application to build new reactors at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant. NC WARN welcomed the announcement but scolded the utility for wasting millions of dollars that could have been spent on energy-saving programs. “The Shearon Harris failure perfectly typifies why the U.S. nuclear ‘renaissance’ is making global warming worse,” Executive Director Jim Warren said in a statement.
Demise of New Harris Nukes is an Important Public Victory toward a Clean Energy Revolution — News Release from NC WARN
Duke Energy’s cancellation yesterday of licensing efforts to build two nuclear reactors at subsidiary Progress Energy’s Harris nuclear plant is good news – but it comes with a taint. Duke-Progress threw away eight years and $70 million – while blocking widespread advances in energy-saving programs, solar and wind, and combined heat and power.
Duke Energy will ask customers to pay for canceled reactors — The News & Observer
When Progress Energy applied for a rate increase last fall, the request didn’t include $70 million the Raleigh electric utility had spent on a planned addition of two reactors at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County. But Duke Energy, which acquired Progress last summer, plans to recover those costs and pass them on to customers, Duke CEO Jim Rogers told investors Friday. Rogers revealed the company’s intentions a day after Charlotte-based Duke announced it is canceling the Shearon Harris expansion.
Climate, rates dominate Duke meeting — Charlotte Observer
Climate change and rate hikes dominated a Duke Energy shareholder meeting Thursday led for the last time by Jim Rogers, outgoing CEO of what the company says is the world’s largest publicly traded utility. Forcefully at times, Rogers defended Duke’s positions – and his own seven-year tenure – on questions ranging from renewable energy to pay raises for directors.
Clean Energy Advocates Inundate Duke Energy Annual Meeting — WFAE
Duke Energy hosted its annual shareholder meeting Thursday. A few dozen protestors stood in front of the building as people walked in the door. Inside, CEO Jim Rogers took questions from the audience for nearly two hours. Questioners included Jim Warren from NC WARN. “Yeah, you’re doing a lot more wind and solar, but 90 percent or more of it is not in the Carolinas or any of your monopoly states, let’s be clear about that,” Warren told Rogers.
Green groups take protests into Duke Energy meeting — Charlotte Business Journal
Environmental groups came out in force for Jim Rogers’ final shareholders meeting as Duke Energy Corp.’s CEO. In addition to about 50 people gathered outside, dozens were inside to ask questions and make statements at the annual open session Rogers holds after the business session of the company’s annual meetings. When Rogers finally closed the session, several attendees continued to object. “Global warming is not an environmental issue — it is killing us,” shouted Beth Henry, a Charlotte activist. “You can’t build a good economy on a dead planet.”
Duke Energy shelves plans for new reactors at Shearon Harris — The News & Observer
After years of delays and postponements, Duke Energy issued an obituary for a pair of long-planned reactors at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County. The Charlotte power company has canceled plans to add the new reactors to the site, where a single unit has been generating electricity for a quarter-century. Duke told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that sluggish growth forecasts show new nuclear units won’t be needed for at least 15 years.