NC WARN Campaigns and Related News

Journalists must Examine Duke Claims on Climate Impacts — News Release from NC WARN

Note to Journalists: Please scrutinize Duke PR claims – and those of its critics – as our society faces existential decisions about energy, climate and democracy. Duke Energy’s long-range business model relies squarely on the public not learning the basics of the Charlotte corporation’s massive expansion of methane-leaking natural gas as it pertains to the global warming crisis.

Despite delay, Dominion vows to complete Atlantic Coast Pipeline on time — Utility Dive

Backers of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline have delayed construction by almost a year, but say there will be no impact on the system’s projected inservice date or project costs, the Charlotte Business Journal reports.

Order, Penalty in Solar-Church Test Case vs Duke Energy — News Release from NC WARN

Late today, the NC Utilities Commission ruled for Duke Energy in the test case where NC WARN has been selling solar power to the Faith Community Church in Greensboro.

NC WARN challenges the NC media on climate, Duke Energy & Duke’s Response– The News & Observer

The elephant in the room is Duke Energy, the nation’s largest carbon-polluting utility, based in Charlotte. Duke is driving carbon emissions higher at the worst possible time. By planning to build 15 fracking-gas power plants in the Carolinas and pipelines to supply them, Duke is crashing headlong into some cold, hard facts: Methane leakage is the nation’s leading greenhouse gas problem and fracking economics is increasingly risky.

NC WARN Challenges Atlantic Coast Fracking Gas Pipeline — News Release from NC WARN

Watchdog nonprofit NC WARN today petitioned federal regulators to accept us as a party in the legal case over a 524-mile gas pipeline proposed by Duke Energy and Dominion Power that would pump natural gas from West Virginia’s fracking fields to power plants in North Carolina. The project is part of a major shift to make gas “the backbone” of Duke Energy’s future, according to CEO Lynn Good.

Utilities commission ignores public concerns about Duke’s Asheville gas-fired plant — Winston-Salem Journal

In February, Duke Energy gave notice to the N.C. Utilities Commission that it planned to build a gas-fired power plant at the current Asheville coal power plant site. Four months later, the N.C. General Assembly approved, and Gov. Pat McCrory signed, the innocuous-sounding Mountain Energy Act, sponsored by state Sen. Tom Apodaca (R-Henderson), which essentially greased the skids for a short, 45-day decision on Duke’s request. The normal time for such a decision is about 180 days, which is much better, considering the controversial nature of this request.

Why Natural Gas Might Not Be A ‘Bridge Fuel’ — WUNC’s The State of Things

Natural gas is considered a “bridge fuel” between fossil fuels and renewable energy, but experts warn that it can actually be worse than coal for the environment.

This interview features Dr. Robert Howarth of Cornell University, who will be joining NC WARN on March 29th for two special public events discussing the dangers of fracking and methane to our health and climate.

Attorney General Should Contest Rigged Duke Plant Approval — NC WARN Letter to AG Roy Cooper

Today NC WARN sent the letter below to Attorney General Roy Cooper. Highlights include:

– We urge him to challenge the rigged and unconstitutional process leading to approval of a large, climate-wrecking power plant.
– Duke Energy’s control over the legislature and regulators is clearly evidenced in the fast-track approval, and Duke plans to build up to 15 large fracking-gas power plants.

State’s Gift to Duke Energy to be Appealed — News Release from NC WARN and The Climate Times

We plan to appeal the closed, pro-Duke process that led to this decision and unneeded plant. In addition to being unconstitutional, it’s a lousy way for state government to operate.

Regulators approve most of Duke Energy’s $1B plan for new gas plant and infrastructure upgrades in Asheville — Charlotte Business Journal

State regulators say Duke Energy Progress can go ahead with a $750 million plan to build a 560-megawatt, two-unit natural gas plant in Asheville.

Jim Warren, executive director of the Durham watchdog group NC WARN, says the decision “sadly demonstrates Duke Energy’s corporate control over our politicians and regulators.”

Duke Energy Misled Regulators at Meeting over New Gas Plant — News Release from NC WARN

Last Monday’s meeting of the NC Utilities Commission perfectly demonstrated why fast-track review of Duke Energy’s application to build a $1.1 billion power plant fails the public interest and is unconstitutional. A Duke Energy attorney laying out a one-sided, over-simplified and misleading case to commissioners is no substitute for an evidentiary hearing that allows for open debate and cross-examination of Duke officials, the Commission’s Public Staff and experts representing other parties.