Durham, N.C. – Leading clean energy advocates and representatives from the solar industry will hold a briefing for the media on the fight to stop Duke Energy’s plot to hobble North Carolina’s rooftop solar program that would kill jobs and hasten the climate crisis.

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Duke wants the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) to quash the state’s customer-owned rooftop solar policy in a way that some intervenors in the case, including those slated to speak at the briefing, contend does not fulfill the requirements of state law. Under Duke’s proposal, rooftop solar customers of Duke’s two monopoly utilities in the state, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, would have monthly new minimum bills of $22 and $28, respectively - essentially an unwarranted, backdoor fixed charge that reverses decades of sound rate-making principles.

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At the same time, Duke is seeking to slash the price both utilities are required to pay ratepayers for surplus power generated by rooftop solar by at least two-thirds. Rooftop solar installers estimate the plan would cut the value of a solar investment by as much as 35%.

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The speakers at the press briefing include representatives of some first-time intervenors at the NCUC who are weighing in to protect the state’s growing rooftop solar industry and protest Duke Energy’s efforts to slow critical climate solutions.

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WHO:

                                                                                                                                              

Ken Cook, President and co-founder, Environmental Working Group (opening remarks)

Kim Porter, Senior organizer, NC WARN (moderator)

Bob Kingery, co-founder and co-owner, Southern Energy Management

John Barnes, CEO, Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corp., Goldsboro, NC

Winston Yau, Sunrise Durham
Cathy Buckley, Director of statewide organizing, Alliance to Protect Our People and the Places We Live (APPPL)

Bill Powers, Principal, Powers Engineering

 

WHEN: April 28, 2022 @ 1:00pm EDT

CALL DETAILS: TBD

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Note: The briefing is being held on behalf of the Duke Energy Accountability Coalition, with several founding member organizations of the coalition participating in the upcoming event.

 

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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy, and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.

 

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