Duke Energy is feeling heat from both sides of the political spectrum. The company wants to become the largest electric utility in the US, through a merger with Progress Energy, but conservatives want Duke CEO Jim Rogers fired. They don’t like his support for regulating carbon emissions, his executive team’s multiple ethical violations, and (probably most galling) his pledge of the corporation’s treasury to help secure financing for the National Democratic Party Convention in Charlotte next summer. Meanwhile, an eclectic mix of NC progressive-leaning groups has formed Consumers Against Rate Hikes to fight a pending proposal by Duke and Progress to push all the risks of building new nuclear power plants onto ratepayers. The coalition’s website is loaded with background information and action steps.
1-888-OUR-VOTE|info@democracy-nc.org
I agree, carbon trading is an unneccesary burden on the rate payers. It won’t accomplish anything and scientists have demonstrated that CO2 emissions does not impact the climate but is good for plant growth. The Democrats should pay for their own convention without imposing costs on the NC ratepayers.