Yesterday the Orange County Board of Commissioners passed a budget that includes nearly a half-million dollars over the next year dedicated to climate action through clean energy projects. It’s an unprecedented show of leadership at an extraordinary point in time, and it really needs to be followed by many other local governments across North Carolina and beyond.
NC CLEAN PATH 2025
In August 2017, NC WARN published North Carolina Clean Path 2025: Achieving an Economical Clean Energy Future, a plan for quickly transitioning the state’s electricity from fossil fuels to solar, battery storage and enhanced energy efficiency.
Local teams are working around the state to implement the plan. Learn more here. The articles below are either about the NC CLEAN PATH 2025 plan or about similar efforts underway in other places.
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Utilities Commission Sides with Duke in 15-year Planning Docket — News Release from NC WARN
Late yesterday the NC Utilities Commission effectively denied NC WARN’s November motion calling for an evidence-based hearing over Duke Energy’s hotly contested 15-year plan to limit renewable power, constantly raise power bills and greatly expand its use of climate-wrecking fracked gas.
NC says yes to Duke Energy’s first solar-plus-storage microgrid — with conditions — Charlotte Business Journal
By John Downey The N.C. Utilities Commission has approved — with some conditions — Duke Energy Progress’ proposed solar-and-storage microgrid designed to improve power reliability and avoid long outages in the isolated town of Hot Springs, North Carolina. The restrictions include a cost cap, confidential for now, above which Duke …
Critics challenge Duke Energy’s long-range plan. Will it make a difference this time? — Energy News Network
Every two years, critics blast Duke Energy’s long-term generation plan in North Carolina, decrying it for containing too much coal and gas and too little renewable power. Each time, regulators approve the company’s blueprint with few if any changes.
Pressure Builds against Duke Energy’s Long-range Plan for NC — News Release from NC WARN
A ruling is expected any day on a regulatory hearing that could determine if North Carolina will finally join growing global efforts to avert runaway climate chaos or allow Duke Energy to continue driving humanity toward the cliff.
North Carolina groups call for end to utility monopoly, 100% renewable energy — PV MAGAZINE
Their petition calls on elected officials to transition the state to 100% renewables; end Duke Energy’s monopoly on generation; refuse to accept campaign contributions from the utility; and appoint citizen-oriented utility commissioners.
CLEAN ENERGY IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD — NEWS & RECORD
Op-ed by Beth McKee-Huger. For an expert engineer’s detailed analysis of opportunities for clean energy to transform our environment, mitigate climate change and create new employment, download North Carolina Clean Path 2025. With only a short time to turn around climate change, he describes what is economically and technologically feasible if we take bold action.
Critics to state regulators: Duke Energy must do much more to combat climate change — NC Policy Watch
Since Colson Combs was born just over 15 years ago, the planet Earth has recorded more than 10 of its hottest years on record. If humans have not dialed back greenhouse gas emissions by the time Combs reaches his late 20s, the world will likely be headed toward a climate crisis that will stalk him for his entire life.
DUKE ENERGY GRID BOONDOGGLE — LETTER TO BERGER, MOORE FROM NC WARN AND APPALACHIAN VOICES
Duke Energy executives are seeking support from North Carolina legislators and others for a highly controversial and twice-failed plan to lock in up to $13 billion in customer rate increases for what critics say are wasteful capital projects.
PUBLIC BADLY NEEDS CLARITY ON CLIMATE URGENCY AND OPTIONS IN 2019 — NEWS RELEASE FROM NC WARN
If another year passes without the public learning that the U.S. fracking boom is a key driver of the climate crisis – especially in the critical short term – humanity’s chances of averting runaway climate and social chaos could shrink to nil.