NC WARN and many diverse allies gained a major win yesterday with the defeat – after seven intense months – of Duke Energy’s $23 billion ‘ratepayer rip-off bill’ (SB 559). This is a major blow against Duke Energy’s dirty business model including its massive expansion of climate-wrecking fracked gas.
Thanks to all the NC WARN members and allies for keeping the pressure on the legislature. Linked here is a statement by Appalachian Voices on behalf of the Energy Justice NC Coalition.
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Hundreds of WUNC Radio Listeners Call for Attention to Climate Solutions, Fracked Gas and Duke Energy — News Release from NC WARN
More than 400 public radio supporters and listeners have called on WUNC Radio management to help the public better understand the causes and potential solutions to the accelerating climate crisis, and they expressed their concern that “WUNC may be downplaying the dangers of Duke Energy’s growing use of natural gas,” particularly in light of Duke’s prominent advertising on the station.
Top Climate Expert Says Stop Utility Gas Expansions — News Release From NC WARN
Leading Climate-Methane Expert Calls for Halt to Expansion of Natural Gas for Electricity across the United States. NC governor, other U.S. leaders urged to issue moratorium on new pipelines, power plants by Duke Energy and other major utilities.
See articles by News & Observer, WRAL, WFAE
Cooper rolls out climate plan; protesters call it ‘sham’ — WRAL
While Cooper spoke with members of the council at the beginning of Friday’s meeting at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, protestors interrupted him, shouting “act, act, act” and holding up signs accusing him of “climate hypocrisy.”
Bombshell: Duke Energy’s illegal contributions and cover up — News Release from Government Watchdog
Duke Energy Acknowledges Illegal Contributions; Dishonest Reporting Deserves $100,000+ Penalty: Seven months after it made illegal contributions to legislative leaders, the Duke Energy PAC tried to conceal its wrongdoing by filing a false and incomplete campaign disclosure report. The State Board of Elections should hold the company accountable.
Duke Energy Shamelessly Deceiving Media, Public with New “Climate Strategy” — News Release from NC WARN
The new 15-year plan shows Duke plans to be only 9% renewable in the Carolinas by 2034, making the monopoly corporation a nationally-leading laggard even as many states and utilities are quickly shifting from natural gas to cheaper, renewable energy paired with battery storage.
North Carolina Governor Urged to End Duke Monopoly, Transform Energy System — News Release from EJNC
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the Energy Justice NC Coalition today called on North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to end Duke Energy’s monopoly and transform the state’s electricity system to 100 percent renewable energy as soon as possible.
Regulators Propose to Stop Making Customers Pay for Duke Energy Influence Spending — News Release from NC WARN
In response to a petition filed last November by NC WARN and Friends of the Earth, the NC Utilities Commission today proposed rules that would prohibit Duke Energy’s public utilities from charging ratepayers for political contributions, charitable contributions and lobbying expenses.
New Evidence: Duke’s gas expansion is making global warming worse — European Geosciences Union
As methane concentrations increase in the Earth’s atmosphere, chemical fingerprints point to a probable source: shale oil and gas, according to new Cornell University research published today in Biogeosciences, a journal of the European Geosciences Union.
Duke CEO put on notice: Gas expansion carries extreme financial, climate risks — Letter from NC WARN
This letter from NC WARN to Duke Energy provides new, hopeful and vitally important background about surging energy storage, the demise of fracked gas, and impacts on the climate crisis. Eight pieces of evidence – summarized after the short letter. Note Forbes Magazine citing Duke Energy as a high-risk laggard.