New renewable plan looks like a coat of green paint for Duke and the rich data corporations it’s aggressively recruiting.
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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NC Voters Want Competition in Electricity Market — News Release from NC WARN
Regulators Bless Duke’s Overcharging Strategy, Discriminatory Rates, and Backroom Dealmaking — News Release from NC WARN
How Duke fleeced Florida customers for $1.5 billion — WTSP News 10 (Tampa)
On Thursday, Duke Energy Florida (formerly Progress Energy) announced that the company would pull the plug on its future Levy Co. nuclear plant. And the money the company has been collecting from customers for years — and will continue to collect until 2018 — will go toward Duke Energy’s expenses and profits.
Duke Energy Devouring NC: Who’s Really Governing the State?
Is NC Governor a Duke Energy Millionaire? – News Release from NC WARN
Does Governor McCrory have conflict of interest? – ABC 11
Watchdog group concerned over McCrory regulating Duke Energy – WSOC Charlotte
Watchdog asks Gov. McCrory to disclose value of Duke Energy stock holdings – Facing South
Following a Facing South report that found North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) holds significant amounts of Duke Energy stock, a watchdog group sent him a letter asking him to disclose its exact value — and reiterated its call that he therefore recuse himself from appointing anyone to the state Utilities Commission.
Is Governor still profiting from Duke Energy as he plans to replace its regulators?
NC WARN sent this letter to Governor Pat McCrory today after learning from his Statement of Economic Interest that he owns stock in Duke Energy.
See his latest SEI filing.
See our previous letters to Governor McCrory:
January 4, 2013 (with AARP NC)
February 11, 2013