On May 16th, Duke Energy submitted a proposed Carbon Plan for public comment in compliance with NC HB 951 requiring the NC Utilities Commission (NCUC) to develop a Carbon Plan by the end of 2022. The Commission is directed to achieve a reduction of 70% from 2005 levels by the year 2030 and carbon neutrality by the year 2050.
Duke’s Plan doesn’t do enough to cut carbon emissions per HB 951 while lacking transparency and allowing for increased costs against ratepayers. Adding insult to injury, it does nothing to combat fracking and pipelines or animal waste digester and biogas activities, which directly impact drinking water resources in addition to climate and air quality. These practices disparately impact rural, low-income, and BIPOC communities.
Below are some great resources including public hearings, rallies, talking points, report cards, and additional resources created by other fantastic organizations with whom we often collaborate or partner.
*Two hearings will be held remotely via Webex, with members of the public participating by phone. People who would like to testify must register in advance by 5:00pm, August 16, 2022, by emailing the Commission at ncucpublichearing@ncuc.net or by calling 919-733-0837.
People who want to register must provide their name, the docket number (E-100 Sub 179), the telephone number that they will use to participate in the hearing, and the topic of their testimony. Only the first 20 people registered for each remote hearing session will be allowed to testify.
People who simply want to observe a remote hearing may do so via the live stream link on this website. Here is more information on how to participate in a remote hearing.
• Durham rally at 5:30pm. Doors for the hearing will open at 7pm, folks will line up in advance and sign up to provide comments as soon as doors open.
• Asheville rally at 5:30pm.
• Charlotte rally at 3:00pm.
Persons may also electronically submit a position statement to the Commission about the Carbon Plan via the Commission’s website
To send your comments via mail:
4325 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4300
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy: Overview of Duke's Proposed NC Carbon Plan
Clean AIRE NC: Carbon Plan Talking Points (cleanairenc.org); NC Carbon Plan - CleanAIRE NC
People Power & Fossil-Free NC: Fossil Free NC; Carbon-Plan-Report-Card
* Note: Some environmental groups offer the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) as an alternative option, but Clean Water for NC and several community groups maintain reservations about RGGI due to EJ impacts, particularly hot-spotting and race-to-the-bottom impacts on low-income, rural, and BIPOC communities. These items would need to be adequately addressed to eliminate disparate and cumulative impacts on EJ communities.