We need a carbon plan for North Carolina not for Duke Energy

The Carbon Plan that the NCUC is required to submit to Gov. Cooper by the end of 2022 is meant to be a plan for North Carolina, not a plan for Duke Energy. Only one of Duke’s plans meet the requirement set by HB 951, passed in June of 2021, that NC must reduce carbon emissions of the power sector by 70% by 2030 vs 2005 levels. But what we need to remember is that Duke Energy is not the only entity that has submitted a proposed plan, and the NCUC doesn’t have to accept any of Duke’s suggestions.

They can choose any of the plans submitted by other organizations, or even create their own. We need a carbon plan that brings about a just transition to clean, renewable energy that does not bring more harm to frontline communities or the environment, like nuclear, biogas, biofuel, wood pellets, and hydrogen would. We need to incorporate union labor into the transition, allowing them to be at the forefront of bringing a clean future to North Carolina. We have the opportunity to power millions of homes with wind energy and batteries alone. The one offshore wind lease Duke has right now off of Bald Head Island could create 2.8 GW of energy, powering more than 2 million homes.

Imagine what we could do if we combined all of our clean renewable energy capabilities?