By setting a $98 million bond in today’s order, the Utilities Commission again has wrongly attempted to block our access to the courthouse – and shield itself and Duke Energy from scrutiny over the approval of a new $1 billion power plant in Asheville that is unneeded, would rely on a shaky supply of shale gas, and would further speed the climate crisis.
Duke Energy Gas Expansion
Duke Energy is planning a massive increase in its burning of natural gas to produce electricity. This would be a climate disaster because of the large amounts of super-potent methane that leak unburned from gas operations, particularly fracking. Recent science from the United Nations and others show that new gas infrastructure is incompatible with the goal of preventing catastrophic climate change. Read more here and in the news items below about NC WARN’s work to block Duke’s fracking gas future.
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Backroom Dealing Taints Yet Another Duke Energy Case — News Release from NC WARN
For at least the fifth straight time in a major Duke Energy case, state regulators have undermined any semblance of fair process – this time by cutting a backroom deal with the utility in a $6 billion merger with Piedmont Natural Gas even before receiving input from either the public or formal parties to the case. The NC Utilities Commission took the extra step this time of granting Duke’s request to disallow testimonies by two natural gas experts fielded by NC WARN and allies.
Duke Energy’s worrisome move to silence nonprofits — News & Observer
One of the most important roles that nonprofit organizations play in our society is that of values guardian… That Duke Energy wants two nonprofits to have to raise $240 million to challenge it in court shows how barriers can be erected to make it difficult for nonprofits to play this vital role. (Op-Ed by director of Institute for Nonprofits at NC State.)
Duke Energy’s planned power plant tied to fracking — Mountain Express
When Duke Energy announced it was canceling plans for a transmission line to a new plant in South Carolina, local environmentalists hailed it as a victory. The utility instead proposed two natural gas-powered units to replace the coal-fired generators at Lake Julian. But what wasn’t heard much during this feel-good narrative was a word that’s generated its own fair share of controversy in recent years: fracking.
Duke Energy wants 2 nonprofits to risk $240M to challenge it in court — News & Observer
Groups Rebut Duke’s Latest Court-barring Bond Claim — News Release from NC WARN
In one of the strangest regulatory cases in state history, a 45-day rubber-stamp approval of a $1.1 billion gas-fired power plant in Asheville has been swamped by the subsequent 120-day battle over our right to appeal the pro-utility regulators’ ruling, a fight with no end in sight. Late yesterday NC WARN and The Climate Times filed an expert’s affidavit rebutting each point of Duke Energy’s recent call to escalate the appeal bond to $240 million.
NC WARN Letter to Duke Energy CEO on Methane Leakage
Appeals Court Deals Blow to Duke Energy and Regulators in Power Plant Fight — News Release from NC WARN
Late today the NC Court of Appeals dealt a rare blow to the state utilities commission and Duke Energy by reversing an order that would have blocked a court appeal of a controversial power plant in Asheville. The court agreed with NC WARN and The Climate Times, who argued that a $10 million bond set by the commission as a condition of appealing the plant approval was not based on evidence.