NC WARN and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed a legal challenge to Duke Energy’s plan to build scores of gas-fired power plants in the Carolinas even though huge amounts of excess generation already sit unused even during the worst winter weather.
Duke Energy Gas Expansion
Duke Energy is planning a massive increase in its burning of natural gas to produce electricity. This would be a climate disaster because of the large amounts of super-potent methane that leak unburned from gas operations, particularly fracking. Read more here and in the news items below about NC WARN’s work to block Duke’s fracking gas future.
Jump to a Subcategory
All News Categories
Duke Energy gets an ‘F’ from environmental group — WXII
Critics say that Duke’s plan for the next 15 years is heading in the wrong direction. Climate and Energy Watchdog Jim Warren, who heads NC WARN calls Duke’s utility plan “Ruinous.”
Research Ranks Duke Energy Worst Climate Offender among U.S. Power Providers — News Release from NC WARN
Worst on coal. Worst on expanding fracked gas. Worst on renewables vs fossil fuels. Worst on wasting billions on power plants that must close decades before they’re paid for
See coverage by WXII
Report Card: Duke’s 15-year energy resource plans fail to serve the public interest — News Release
A coalition of over a dozen Carolina-based and national clean energy and environmental justice nonprofit organizations issued a report card that finds Duke Energy Carolinas’ and Duke Energy Progress’ 2020 Integrated Resource Plans fall short of the coalition’s principles for a plan in the public interest.
New energy report could yield a win-win for climate and pocketbooks — NC Policy Watch
Op-Ed by Sally Robertson. COVID taught us a lot about living in crisis mode. The biggest lesson: Address crises early enough to avoid a complete disruption of our lives. Let’s start with the climate crisis.
FERC: Developers submit plan to undo $8B pipeline — E&E News
Developers of the now-canceled Atlantic Coast pipeline have submitted a plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for dismantling the $8 billion natural gas project, which would have crossed West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.
Duke Energy Plans Increased Coal Use, 50 New Fracked-gas Units — News Release from NC WARN
Despite “climate plan” and greenwashing TV ads, 15-year Carolinas plan leaves Duke a national laggard on cheaper renewable power. In the Carolinas, Duke plans to greatly expand its burning of fracked gas – and expand coal use – even as dozens of its gas units sit totally unused, while continuing to limit the growth of cheaper renewable power.
Many U.S. electric utilities plan slow decarbonization over next decade, out of sync with Biden plan — Energy & Policy Institute
“Net-zero” goals proliferate, but speed, integrity of commitments varies greatly. The country’s top emitting utilities are on decarbonization pathways that are too slow to meet the climate goals set forth by President-Elect Joseph Biden.
Too Much Sun Degrades Coatings That Keep Pipes From Corroding, Risking Leaks, Spills and Explosions — Inside Climate News
Pipeline installation delays leave pipes stored longer than recommended aboveground, where UV light can deteriorate the coatings that prevent corrosion.
We’ve fought the pandemic together. Let’s do the same with climate change. — News & Observer
Op-Ed by Drew Shindell and Jim Warren. Reducing methane emissions is crucial for limiting climate change in the near term. Doing so can provide vital benefits, including fewer people dying from air pollution and heat waves and harmed by powerful storms and wildfires. The climate crisis demands that we stop building fossil fuel infrastructure immediately.