On Dec. 4, 2024, the Town of Carrboro sued Duke Energy as the town claimed that the company’s decade-long nationwide climate deception scheme has worsened the environmental degradation in the area.
The lawsuit was filed to the North Carolina Superior Court against Duke Energy alleging that the company failed to reduce its greenhouse gases emission and the Mayor and City Council argued that the company increases its use of fossil fuels and lead to more climate crisis.
The town claimed that Duke Energy’s action has hindered the life of residents and is costing the town millions of dollars. The lawsuit requests Duke Energy to compensate Carrboro and its residents for additional damages but it has not specified a dollar amount.
The company has a regional reputation, providing energy to six states, and the amount of coal and natural gas produced by power plants is one of the biggest operators in the United States. According to the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), in 2022 Duke energy was the third most carbon dioxide emitting company in the U.S.
In response to the lawsuit, Duke Energy said that they were reviewing the complaint and would work with the lawmaker and regulators to deliver reliable and clean electricity without emitting substantial amounts of greenhouse gases.
Carrboro is supported by the NC WARN, an environmental group that represents consumers on utility matters. The organization contests that the company is trying to avoid the transition to a clean energy future, despite its high knowledge and behavior on clean energy.
As the climate change lawsuit is increasing in different states, various Republican attorney generals around the country have asked the U.S. Supreme court to block requests from pursuing climate change lawsuits against the oil and gas industry. This request was conducted as the lawsuits deceived the public about the risk of people’s health to climate change.
Such lawsuits to Duke Energy may signify to larger companies that legal action can be made to hold them responsible for their actions to climate change, particularly to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
