Media Advisory, February 11, 2019

Groups in North Carolina Launch Campaign to End Duke Energy's Monopoly Control of Electric System, Public Officials

RALEIGH, N.C.— The Energy Justice NC Coalition will roll out a multipronged campaign with a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 13. The groups will call for fair competition in North Carolina’s energy system and an end to Duke Energy’s monopoly stranglehold that is increasingly harming communities, businesses and the environment.

Immediately following the press conference, the coalition members will hand-deliver a letter to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Senate President Phil Berger and General Assembly Speaker Tim Moore. The letter calls on the officials to publicly pledge to stop taking Duke Energy’s campaign contributions and begin a public process to open North Carolina to energy choice and competition.

The event will be live streamed on Facebook.

What: Press conference challenging Duke Energy monopoly

When: Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m.

Where: Family Life Center at the First Baptist Church, 101 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601

Speakers: Bobby Jones, Down East Coal Ash Coalition; Donna Chavis, RedTailed Hawk Collective, Friends of the Earth; Amy Adams, Appalachian Voices; Jean Su, Center for Biological Diversity
     
The Energy Justice NC Coalition is a new collaboration of 15 local, state, regional and national organizations focused on promoting common-sense energy policies that will shift the state to a more affordable, safer and secure electric system. It is also calling for policies that create local jobs and community wealth through allowing consumer choice and competition.  

The coalition is anchored by leaders from communities devastated by worsening hurricanes, Duke Energy’s coal ash negligence, proposal for the massive fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline, hog waste being labeled “renewable” energy and runaway rate hikes.

The groups are rolling out an unprecedented effort by social justice and clean energy advocates to end monopoly control of a state’s electric system.