Solar Freedom in Greensboro

Duke Energy is at it again, fighting to restrict access to solar energy in North Carolina and this time threatening a small nonprofit and African-American church in the process.

The democratization of the energy sector is coming, but Duke Energy is digging in its heels. Its decision to challenge environmental group N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network is an indication that the utility company will stop at nothing to prevent the transition to a clean energy economy.

For their temerity in providing cheap electricity to a low-income church, utility goliath Duke Energy wants a nonprofit citizen group hit with fines up to $120,000.

Duke Energy has asked the N.C. Utilities Commission to fine a small nonprofit group, NC WARN, $1,000 per day for selling solar energy to a church in Greensboro. The irony and hypocrisy are thicker than the sludge in a Duke Energy coal ash pond. Response from Duke Energy.

Earlier this year, Faith Community Church in Greensboro asked nonprofit NC WARN to install a 5-kW solar system on its roof and to sell it the resulting clean power at a rate that would save it money. Why would clean solar power placed on a small North Carolina church be a threat to utility behemoth Duke Energy?

Duke Energy has filed a complaint against NC WARN, an environmental group, for distributing solar power to a church in Greensboro. Duke Energy says state law prohibits third-party sales.

The nation’s largest utility company has responded aggressively to the solar energy experiment at Faith Community Church, urging state regulators to impose a fine “up to $1,000” per day against the nonprofit group selling solar panels to the small Greensboro congregation.

Duke Energy, which last year reported a profit of almost $2 billion, is seeking a $120,000 fine against a nonprofit for trying to undermine the company’s solar power sales monopoly in North Carolina.

Duke Energy has asked state regulators to fine advocacy group NC WARN for selling solar power to a Greensboro church instead of Duke, as state law generally requires.

Duke Energy says the state Utilities Commission should fine an advocacy group $1,000 a day for selling power from solar panels to a Greensboro church.