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.”
Methane, Fracked Gas & Climate
Methane (the main component in natural gas) is 100 times as bad for the climate as carbon dioxide over the short term. Less CO2 is emitted by natural gas than by coal when burned. But significant leakage of methane before burning makes gas a disaster for the climate, as revealed even more by recent science. Yet utilities and the gas industry are still feverishly promoting fracked gas.
NC WARN is working hard to connect the dots between climate change, methane leakage and the fracking boom that is driven by demand from the electric power industry.
Learn more about our methane work here.
Watch a 3-minute video by Cornell University’s Dr. Robert Howarth describing why natural gas is a disastrous strategy for the climate. More videos, PowerPoints and documentation here.
“Everything You Need to Know About Methane”, a primer by Earthjustice.
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NC Governor Heeds Duke Energy Instead of Climate Science — News Release from NC WARN
Deal over controversial energy bill leaves Duke on track to keep building 50 gas-fired units despite pleas by world scientists, new revelations on methane.
Doomed: Duke Energy’s Massive Gas Expansion — News Release from NC WARN
President Biden joins scientists’ call to cut methane emissions as fastest way to slow the climate crisis … “could be huge” says top Duke University expert.
Will Utilities Commissioners OK Duke Energy’s 50 Fracked-gas Power Units? — News Release from NC WARN
Upcoming “technical conference” is poor substitute for making Duke Energy officials answer questions under oath.
North Carolina tightens rules on how Duke Energy pays for political activity — Energy News Network
Regulators clarify that utilities cannot charge ratepayers for political spending, but they’re free to spend profits on campaigns, including dark money groups.
Duke Energy Scandal, Ruling Over Influence Spending — News Release from NC WARN
Duke Energy “Influence Spending” Addressed in Mixed Ruling by NC Utilities Commission. Order comes as “worst-ever” scandal shows energy giant poured money onto state legislators in lead-up to ongoing, controversial energy bill.
DUKE ENERGY – NEWS & OBSERVER
Letter to the Editor by Jim Warren. Articles Wednesday on the climate crisis and the controversial energy bill, House Bill 951, wrongly implied that Duke Energy is shifting off fossil fuels.
More Trouble for Duke Energy’s Methane/Gas Expansion, Climate-wrecking Biz Plan — Statement from NC WARN
The NC Utilities Commission told our attorney and other intervenors late Friday that it will conduct a two-day technical session to take a deeper look into Duke Energy’s hotly contested 15-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) on September 30 and October 1.
Regulators Deal Major Blow to Duke Energy Gas Expansion, 15-year Biz Model — News Release from NC WARN
The NC Utilities Commission just announced that it will conduct additional proceedings to take a deeper look into Duke Energy’s hotly contested 15-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This is yet another major problem for the nation’s worst climate-polluting electricity provider.
NC energy bill has one big beneficiary (and it’s not you) — News & Observer/Charlotte Observer
North Carolina House Republican lawmakers and Duke Energy’s representatives spent months in closed-door meetings hammering out an energy bill that somehow emerged, politically speaking, without any energy. Despite efforts to build up suspense about House Bill 951, the measure landed with a thud last week.