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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Hearings Offer Chance to Comment on Duke Energy's Carbon Plan

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Thursday, July 7, 2022   

A series of in-person hearings across the state in the coming weeks will give North Carolinians a chance for input on a proposal by Duke Energy to cut its carbon emissions.

The utility was tasked with developing the plan by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, under legislation passed last fall to increase renewable energy.

As CEO of the nonprofit advocacy group Good Solar, Ethan Blumenthal said he's disappointed that only one out of the four plans proposed by Duke reaches the goal of 70% carbon emission reductions by 2030.

"One plan goes to 2032, and two of them go out to 2034," said Blumenthal, "when every second that we're emitting carbon creates more impacts."

Supporters of the plans point out that all four options achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality goal and would boost development of solar and wind.

The hearings will be July 11 in Durham, the 12 in Wilmington, 27 in Asheville, and 28 in Charlotte. More information is on the North Carolina Utilities Commission website at 'ncuc.net.'

Policy Manager at CleanAIRE NC Joel Porter said environmental groups would like to see North Carolina join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which would put a price on their carbon dioxide output.

"We believe that if they were to incorporate an actual carbon price in the carbon plan," said Porter, "they would come close to hitting their 2030 goal, just by the virtue of having to pay for the right to pollute."

Blumenthal added that stronger efforts to decarbonize will result in more clean and affordable energy for North Carolinians.

"And I think it's incredibly important from the clean energy economy perspective," said Blumenthal, "that North Carolina continues to show what can be done, particularly in the region."

North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation for solar power generation and third for installed solar. In 2020, 16% of the electricity generated in the state came from renewables, according to federal data.



Disclosure: CleanAIRE NC contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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