On March 29, three climate justice nonprofits filed a joint challenge to Duke Energy’s Solar Choice Net Metering proposal, arguing that changes would disadvantage future solar customers, particularly those who are low-income.
Duke/Kochs' Control of Government
Duke Energy and others in the energy industry consistently use deceptive public relations – and millions of customer dollars – to distort the debate over important decisions. Duke’s control over NC state government is significant. We must face this “inconvenient truth” in order to make the shift to clean, safe energy. This corporate influence has, in the words of Dr. James Hansen, wounded our democracy.
Particularly egregious are efforts by Duke, the Koch brothers and other industry powers to slow the growth of solar energy and, in North Carolina, to prevent competition from third-party providers of no-upfront-cost solar deals that put solar energy within reach of many more homeowners and businesses. Another good example of corporate power is the passage in some states of Construction Work in Progress laws that allow utilities to charge customers in advance for building expensive new plants that aren’t even needed.
In 2015, Duke Energy, the Koch Brothers and others successfully kept the Energy Freedom bill bottled up in committee at the NC legislature. The bill would have opened up NC to third-party solar deals. Read about our 2015 Duke Hates Solar campaign in support of the bill.
Read about our Solar Freedom project at Faith Community Church in Greensboro — a test case in the state’s ban on third-party sales of electricity.
Direct Appeals for Dialogue with Duke Energy
NC WARN has repeatedly reached out to Duke Energy executives, seeking to collaborate with them on moving away from obstructionism and toward a clean energy future. A few examples are listed here.
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Smoking Gun in Duke Energy Solar Scheme as Legal Fight Looms — News Release from NC WARN
Duke officials knew plan would cause market-killing 30% hit to block of solar customers; Attorney General agrees case must be postponed due to 2017 law NC WARN’s engineer has uncovered more evidence that Duke Energy’s proposal to change rooftop solar rules would choke the industry’s stability if approved by state …
Statewide Ads Point to Duke Energy’s “Choking” Solar Proposal — News Release from NC WARN
Thursday’s legal challenge and open appeal for NC Gov. Roy Cooper’s protection by North Carolina’s rooftop solar industry is drawing widespread attention to Duke Energy’s attempt to change state rules. Today, NC WARN began rallying support for solar with a statewide ad buy on TV stations and a host of on-line outlets.
15 Solar Companies Challenge Duke Rules Proposal — Note from NC WARN
Fifteen rooftop solar companies from across North Carolina today called on Gov. Roy Cooper to help protect rooftop solar from Duke Energy’s attempt to weaken the industry by changing state rules. See media coverage on WFAE, WUNC, WXII and the Energy News Network and in the Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News & Record, News & Observer/Charlotte Observer, Facing South and PV Magazine.
“Killing” of Rooftop Solar in California Previews Duke Energy Fight in NC — News Release from NC WARN
Duke Energy’s attack on rooftop solar in North Carolina is being previewed in California as that state’s regulators have proposed rule changes projected to double the payback period for solar homes, cost up to 50,000 jobs and wreck efforts to slow the climate crisis.
NC WARN Climate Emergency Rally!
On November 19th, 2021 NC WARN and our allies rallied outside of Gov. Roy Cooper’s mansion urging him to: Declare a climate emergency! Stop Duke Energy’s fracked gas expansion! Uplift low-income and BIPOC communities being affected the most by superstorms and high electric bills! Side with the people of North Carolina, not Duke Energy!
Groups rally outside Executive Mansion call for climate emergency declaration – CBS 17
Multiple groups with the same cause converged outside the Executive Mansion Friday to urge Gov. Roy Cooper to declare a climate emergency and stop Duke Energy from building 50 gas-burning power units.
Environmental groups call on Gov. Cooper to declare climate emergency in NC — News & Observer
A coalition of 17 energy advocacy groups gathered Friday near North Carolina’s Executive Mansion to call on Gov. Roy Cooper to become the first U.S. governor to declare a climate emergency, a step they said could be used to prevent Duke Energy from building new natural gas plants.
See coverage by CBS 17
The revised N.C. energy bill is better, but it should do more to stem climate change — N&O/Charlotte Observer
On a major bill that will shape North Carolina’s energy future, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders have reached what’s being called a compromise. But if that’s what House Bill 951 is, it’s an odd one.
Bipartisan support for energy bill as some worry over costs, ‘ambiguities’ – WRAL
NC WARN, often the state’s most ardent environmental advocate, blasted the bill and the governor for supporting it, saying it “gives cover for the Charlotte-based corporate giant to continue its climate-wrecking expansion of gas-fired power plants.”