NC WARN

Duke Energy remains a top polluter despite long-running pretense that super-potent methane doesn’t count

NC regulators yesterday claimed the state’s climate pollution is the “lowest in decades.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The long-running deception, crafted by Duke Energy and decried by scientists, is to focus on carbon dioxide emissions while leaving out upstream and power plant releases (pg. 24-25) of super-potent methane.

That’s like claiming apple pie is a health food by pretending the sugar doesn’t matter – and doubling the order for school cafeterias for decades to come.

Methane has caused two-thirds as much global warming as has CO2. But Duke Energy plans to build more gas-fired generation than any other US power provider – some 12,300 MW (pg. 13) of power plants by 2040, continuing to drive up power bills for people across North Carolina.

A 2025 report ranks Duke Energy as the third largest climate polluter in the US.

Drew Shindell, a globally prominent climatologist at Duke University, said today, “DEQ says that Duke’s expansion of gas and extension of coal is expected to reverse the trend in NC and drive increases in emissions over 2022-2030, which will fuel more Helenes and Florences, more sea-level rise pulling houses from the Outer Banks, more summer heatwaves, more deaths from air pollution, and higher costs than residents would face with more renewables instead of fossil fuels.”

It is encouraging that other emissions are down across the state, but expanding the use of methane overmatches the positive impacts of reduced coal-fired power. And Duke now plans to keep burning coal – and possibly expand it – until at least 2040.

Although we disagree with the rosy picture painted by the DEQ, we agree that North Carolina must transition to a clean energy economy as quickly as possible. Gov. Stein must support development of solar-plus-storage across the state beginning with public facilities critical during emergencies and require it on any new data centers.

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Now in its 38th year, NC WARN is building people power in the climate and energy justice movement to persuade or require Charlotte-based Duke Energy – one of the world’s largest climate polluters – to make a quick transition to renewable, affordable power generation and energy efficiency in order to avert climate tipping points and ongoing rate hikes. 

The post The Big Lie: State Claims Climate Pollution is Down — NC WARN News Release appeared first on NC WARN.

Statement from Executive Director Jim Warren — A North Carolina business court judge yesterday dismissed a groundbreaking climate lawsuit filed by the Town of Carrboro against Duke Energy Corporation in December 2024. While we are disappointed and disagree with the result, Carrboro is evaluating all of its options, including appeal.

NC WARN is honored to be assisting the Town of Carrboro alongside the Center for Biological Diversity in this case.

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Now in its 38th year, NC WARN is building people power in the climate and energy justice movement to persuade or require Charlotte-based Duke Energy – one of the world’s largest climate polluters – to make a quick transition to renewable, affordable power generation and energy efficiency in order to avert climate tipping points and ongoing rate hikes. 

The post Judge Sides with Duke Energy in Climate Deception Lawsuit — Statement from Executive Director Jim Warren appeared first on NC WARN.