Tell Gov Stein to rein in Duke Energy!
Take ActionAn alliance of nonprofits today called for NC Attorney General Roy Cooper to assert his explicit legal authority to enforce the corporate charter of Duke Energy, saying an investigation of the corporation’s North Carolina operations is required due to its history of criminality – from partnering with Enron to coal ash failures – and a rapidly advancing climate crisis that could see sea levels rise 10 feet by mid-century.
See coverage in the Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Observer and others.
Residents from across the state gathered in Raleigh today to announce a new alliance of North Carolinians directly impacted by coal ash and to call on Duke Energy, the General Assembly, the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, and Governor McCrory to find permanent, safe solutions for coal ash that protect all communities from the toxic waste.
Duke Energy is telling the news media it is already on track to meet carbon reduction targets in the new EPA Clean Power Plan, which calls for 32 percent lower emissions from electric power plants by 2030. This is countered by available data and appears to be a dangerous fiction – more greenwashing of the corporate image.
Today NC WARN sent [Duke Energy] CEO Lynn Good a letter seeking information about Duke’s intentions [for contaminated coal ash dumpsites]. We also urged her to correct the lousy, secretive process that has led to growing public mistrust about Duke’s coal ash plans.
The national campaign by entrenched fossil fuel corporations to stanch the rapid growth of solar power is now playing out full-bore in the North Carolina legislative and public opinion arenas. What needs to be a healthy debate about our state’s electricity and climate path forward is being hijacked by Duke Energy and Koch brother forces that are distorting issues in dire need of clarity.
NC WARN has called on federal regulators to reconsider their decision not to investigate the costs and benefits of a regional strategy to share electricity supply. In denying our call for investigation on April 30, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ignored Duke Energy’s misrepresentation of NC WARN’s factual and legal position.
NC WARN’s motion for reconsideration
NC WARN’s original federal complaint filed with FERC
Glut in Southeastern Electric Supply as Monopolies Keep Building Plants, Raising Rates — News Release from NC WARN
Regulatory Contortion allows Duke, others to gouge customers — News Release from NC WARN
