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Trump stands behind Hegseth after attack plans shared in second Signal chat; Pollution exemptions granted to AR coal plants; Coping with OR's climate change-fueled pollen season; Federal funding cuts could hit MT harder than other states.

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Defense Secretary Hegseth faces calls to resign for discussing battle plans in a second Signal chat. Indiana denies students the use of college IDs to register to vote, and the White House signals the U.S. might stop trying to end the Russia-Ukraine War.

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Money meant for schools in timber country is uncertain as Congress fails to reauthorize a rural program, farmers and others will see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked, and DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security.

Critics Say Utilities Panel Not Doing Enough to Shape NC Carbon Plan

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Monday, October 10, 2022   

Advocates are contending North Carolina state agencies are not doing enough to slow down the devastating impacts of climate change.

Last year Gov. Roy Cooper signed an energy bill into law, which calls on the state's utilities commission to develop a carbon plan for the state to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 70% below 2005 levels by 2030, and be carbon-free by 2050.

Critics countered the commission instead is handing the task over to Duke Energy, the utility it's tasked with regulating.

Susannah Tuttle, director of North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light, an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, said more than thirty interveners have stepped up to counter Duke's plan, which they argue relies too heavily and for too long on fossil fuels.

"Right now, as a regulated monopoly and a utility, Duke is not really being regulated," Tuttle asserted. "They're doing whatever they want. And it's our time to wake up as North Carolinians, and say, actually, the commission should be regulating you, and this is what we want."

Under the current proposed plan, Duke Energy is seeking approval for all four of its pathways to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The path achieves 70% reductions by 2030, and the other pathways achieve the 70% goal between 2032 and 2034, relying on offshore wind and nuclear reactor technologies.

Tuttle pointed out she is concerned Duke's plan relies on building new fossil-fuel infrastructure, including running the Mountain Valley Pipeline and additional fracked gas pipelines throughout the state.

"The North Carolina utility commission has the power to empower and engage the millions of North Carolinians who want to be able to build their wealth, reduce their dependency on fossil fuels and promote justice and equity in our energy system," Tuttle outlined.

Ren Martin, eco-justice connection coordinator for the North Carolina Council of Churches, said the commission should be seeking input on the carbon plan from low-income communities, which will likely be hardest hit by a lack of investment in renewable-energy sources.

"When we talk about energy burden, we're talking about making sure that those who don't have all of the money to really pay for those utilities are having less of a burden for that energy," Martin stated.

Disclosure: The North Carolina Council of Churches contributes to our fund for reporting on Environment, Health Issues, Immigrant Issues, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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