Duke’s Carbon Plan Prioritizes Profits Over Solutions

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2024) — Duke Energy has made it clear — its Carbon Plan is about making itself richer, not moving North Carolina to a carbon-free future. After a lengthy expert witness hearing, Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has filed a brief detailing the many ways Duke’s plan fails ratepayers, particularly lower-income North Carolinians who disproportionately bear the costs both on their utility bills and their health. 

Click here to read the brief. 

Duke’s proposal is a gold-plated pipe dream, relying on untested and overpriced technologies at the expense of North Carolina’s most vulnerable communities. Ratepayers across the state will pay the price in their energy bills — and in their lives, as Duke’s natural gas buildout looks to impact the health and wellbeing of many communities and add fuel to the climate crisis fire. 

“Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan prioritizes profits over people, leaving the state’s most vulnerable to suffer from health impacts and soaring energy bills,” said James Huey, Counsel for Environmental Justice at SCSJ. “Duke is rolling the dice on North Carolina’s future — and ratepayers in impacted communities will have to foot the bill for its unproven predictions and unreliable technologies.” 

The brief makes several key points, including: 

• Duke does not consider the true cost of its natural gas buildout. The proposed plants create overwhelming and, yet, avoidable health costs for communities who are already disproportionately suffering from environmental injustices. 

• Duke is gambling on hydrogen energy, while ratepayers will have to pay the bill. Duke is overinvesting in an energy source without any proven or reliable way of producing, transporting, or relying on it. But Duke is guaranteed profits on capital investments, so all the risks of this gamble are borne by ratepayers, while Duke will reap rewards no matter whether this technology succeeds or fails. 

• Duke ignores potential improvements to its grid that could reduce the need for new gas energy. While shouting their own praises for their lackluster energy efficiency programs, Duke ignores tried-and-true methods that could help create the most affordable Carbon Plan. 

SCSJ filed the brief on behalf of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network and the Environmental Justice Community Action Network, who have both intervened into the Carbon Plan to account for the true costs and burdens of fossil fuel-based energy imposed on impacted communities. 

“Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan is a blatant assault on North Carolina’s most vulnerable communities. Instead of leading us toward a just and equitable future, this plan heaps more burdens on those already suffering from environmental racism and inequality,” said Rania Masri, Co-Executive Director of NCEJN. “It’s a classic case of institutionalized injustice, where profit and power come at the direct expense of the health and safety of marginalized people. We demand accountability and a real commitment to a fair and inclusive transition to a clean energy future.” 

“Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan is a serious setback for our communities, adding more strain to those of us who are already bearing the brunt of environmental injustices,” said Sherri White-Williamson, Executive Director of EJCAN. “However, this challenge only strengthens our resolve. We are committed to working alongside our communities to secure the resources and support needed to overcome these barriers. Together, we will fight for a future where every community has access to a healthy environment and the opportunity to thrive.” 

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Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Environmental Justice Community Action Network (EJCAN) is a North Carolina-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on, and dedicated to, achieving environmental justice. EJCAN provides resources to communities in Sampson County, NC seeking assistance in improving the environment where they live, work, play and pray. EJCAN serves these communities by empowering them with the technical, scientific, legal, educational and funding resources they need to overcome the powerful interests that stand in the way of successfully addressing the environmental problems they face. 

North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN) is a grassroots, people of color-led coalition of community organizations and their supporters who work with low-income communities and people of color on issues of climate, environmental, racial, and social injustice.