Duke Energy’s Greenwashing Scam Challenged by Clean Energy Advocates in Court
When is a voluntary electric bill surcharge a clean energy scam? When the extra cash paid by electric customers goes straight to Duke Energy’s profits without increasing clean energy production.
Last week, clean energy advocates asked the NC Court of Appeals to block the NC Utilities Commission’s (NCUC) approval of a Duke Energy program called “Clean Energy Impact.” The program allows customers to buy energy credits which supposedly support North Carolina’s transition to clean energy. It’s greenwashing at its finest– an act to appear environmentally friendly without providing actual effort or impact.
Challenging the Scam
According to the challenge filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on behalf of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), the Duke program actually does not add anything to what Duke is already doing under state law.
“The problem is that Duke was going to build these clean energy projects anyway, regardless of the subscription program,” says the SELC news release. “Since Duke’s new program only allows residents to support clean energy projects that the utility already plans to procure, North Carolinians who participate won’t help reduce heat-trapping carbon pollution any faster than without the program.”
“Duke’s new program threatens to mislead North Carolinians,” said Nick Jimenez, an SELC senior attorney. “Folks willing to pay extra to support clean energy projects will understandably – and mistakenly – assume that they’re helping accelerate our state’s clean energy transition.”
Esse Quam Videri: To Be Rather Than To Seem
Stacey Washington, Clean Energy and Equity Director at SACE, said, “Duke’s new customer program undermines the trust of North Carolinians seeking to protect their families and future generations from the consequences of climate-warming carbon pollution. Meanwhile, Duke’s corresponding program for large customers encourages corporations to claim support of our energy transition without keeping our communities safer.”
In a written response to WFAE news, Duke Energy essentially admits the facts of the case: their program wasn’t designed to add additional clean energy over what they’re already doing.
Our state motto, “Esse Quam Videri,” calls us to be rather than to seem. Yet, Duke Energy doesn’t want to be environmentally friendly. It just wants to seem environmentally friendly to make more money. Clean energy advocates are asking that the Court call a scam a scam, and protect well-meaning North Carolina electric customers from being fleeced to boost Duke Energy’s profits at their expense. The question is now: will the court uphold it?
