Sue Sturgis
@suesturgis.bsky.social
Researcher with the Energy and Policy Institute. Dog, cat, and plant nerd. Antifascist. Raleigh, NC.
Where is Duke Energy getting this nice, round number from? Despite significant research and reporting, we still have no idea, and they're not saying.
Without greenhouse gas limits, Duke Energy claims it will save $10 billion
The utility has not specified where the $10B saving will come from.
newsobserver.com
Duke Energy, the state's Public Staff and several of the biggest tech companies filed a proposed settlement this week creating rules for NC's largest new electricity users, like data centers. Regulators still have to approve it. Here's what it does, what it doesn't, and who wants more. 🧵
starw1.ncuc.gov
EPI's David Pomerantz expects Duke Energy, Southern Co. and electric utility trade group EEI to "heavily lobby ... to at minimum weaken, or even remove" the transmission reforms in the Senate's bipartisan permitting bill, per Latitude Media. 🧵
How monopoly utilities lost influence in Washington
The Senate’s bipartisan permitting bill includes a provisions utilities have historically opposed.
latitudemedia.com
Who benefits from NC's proposed property tax amendment? Watchdog Bob Hall warns that capping local property tax increases would be a gift to Duke Energy and data centers, while leaving families to cover the cost through higher fees, sales taxes, or cuts to public services.
Bob Hall: Voting for this amendment would be a gift to Duke Energy and data centers
That last phrase – “which may include exceptions” – opens the door for super-sized property owners to lobby state legislators for special tax breaks and extra protection the rest of
journalnow.com
"The CDC data showed an average of about 19 heat-related deaths in North Carolina a year," WFAE reports. "NPR’s modeling based on climate data estimated 330."
NPR research estimates NC heat-related deaths may be much higher than reported
A new report from NPR and Boston University suggests that the average number of heat-related deaths in North Carolina each year is almost 18 times what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent...
wfae.org
The Trump administration is giving Duke Energy about $62 million in taxpayer dollars to maintain two coal-fired power plants in North Carolina. Public money underwriting coal pollution.
U.S. energy secretary stoked on coal during visit to Duke Energy’s Roxboro power plant
The visit comes one week after the Environmental Protection Agency rolled back greenhouse gas regulations on American power plants.
wfae.org
A new analysis from Energy Innovation finds that federal policy changes since January 2025 will harm North Carolina with higher energy prices, slower economic growth and job creation, worse air pollution and healthcare costs, and less grid reliability.
North Carolina Economic, Consumer Cost, and Pollution Impacts of Federal Energy Policy Changes
Federal energy policy changes will harm North Carolina with high energy prices, lost jobs, more pollution, and worse grid reliability.
energyinnovation.org
In petitions filed with the NC Office of Administrative Hearings, the Southern Environmental Law Center said that, by splitting the 600-plus diesel generators into two separate air quality permits, Duke and Amazon are "illegally evading requirements of the Clean Air Act."
Amazon, Duke won permits for hundreds of generators. Opponents aren’t done yet.
A future Amazon data center is facing a challenge to its plan to use nearly 650 diesel generators as temporary and backup power.
newsobserver.com
Michael Whatley and his family hold investments in companies fueling data center growth in North Carolina, according to his federal disclosure: $149,000-$410,000 in Duke Energy, $1,000-$15,000 in Arista Networks, $80,000-$200,000 in Dominion Energy, and $16,000-$65,000 in GE Vernova.
Inside GOP Senate hopeful's financial ties to controversial data center boom
Michael Whatley holds up to $690,000 in energy investments tied to companies powering North Carolina's data center boom, raising conflict questions.
foxnews.com
“As Duke Energy pushes for millions more from the pockets of hardworking families across North Carolina, our ads throughout the Tar Heel state will rally consumers to push back, contact the utilities commission, and demand a system that works for families, not just corporate executives.”
Consumer Reports launches media campaign in North Carolina to fight Duke Energy rate hikes - CR Advocacy
Raleigh, North Carolina – Consumer Reports today announced the launch of a media campaign urging the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) to reject Duke Energy’s…
advocacy.consumerreports.org
The News & Observer examines climbing rider charges on Duke Energy customer bills in North Carolina.
This item in your Duke Energy bill might have doubled recently. Here’s why
Many of us have been using more energy recently. There’s an item in your bill that you probably haven’t been paying attention to, but has likely increased.
newsobserver.com
A utility trade group is quietly fighting to preserve a bond classification that critics say costs ratepayers billions -- without ever saying so outright. EPI breaks down EEI’s SEC filing.
Utility group EEI backs recovery bond reclassification that drives up electric bills
The SEC is taking comments on a classification change for bonds utilities issue to fund storm and wildfire recovery. Critics say the status quo is costing customers billions, but the trade association...
energyandpolicy.org
NC's Attorney General's Office has told state regulators it wants a dedicated rate class for data centers in Duke Energy's pending rate cases, not a system where data centers can pick which rates they pay. 🧵
starw1.ncuc.gov
BREAKING: The NC Utilities Commission today issued an order denying Duke Energy Progress's bid to build a new 255 MW gas peaker plant in Richmond County -- a rare full CPCN rejection.
starw1.ncuc.gov
North Carolina restaurateurs on the difficulty that Duke Energy's proposed rate hikes would mean for their businesses.
Reject Duke Energy’s rate hikes. NC restaurants are carrying enough | Opinion
Duke Energy’s rate requests will strain small businesses, three North Carolina chefs and restaurant owners write. | Opinion
newsobserver.com
OpenAI leadership met with leaders of top electric utility companies including Duke Energy to discuss how to secure the grid amid threats of cyberattacks. OpenAI's solution to the potential problem? OpenAI's own cyber services.
Sam Altman pitches utilities on AI grid defense
The previously unreported meetings have come as utility companies grapple the risks posed to the grid by autonomous hacks.
politico.com
"The answer to this new challenge posed by data centers isn’t to allow the wealthiest companies on the planet, building the largest electricity demand machines in human history, to flee the utility problem - it’s to compel them to help us fix it," writes EPI Executive Director David Pomerantz.
Keep Data Centers On The Grid
We can do it, and lower people’s rates, but utilities are going to oppose any reforms that threaten their profits
utilitywatch.substack.com
An anti-corruption protest outside the North Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday targeted Chief Justice Paul Newby for his participation in a ruling to uphold a Duke Energy rate hike despite his wife holding substantial investments in the company.
New Anita Earls campaign ad + protest outside NC Supreme Court
Read our Under the Dome newsletter to stay up to date on North Carolina politics, delivered to your inbox.
newsobserver.com
The Dump Duke organizers plan to knock on doors across St. Petersburg, FL, in the coming months to gather the roughly 16,200 signatures needed to put on the ballot the question of ditching the investor-owned utility and creating a municipal public power system.
How a proposal to ditch Duke Energy could get on St. Petersburg ballots
A new coalition officially kicked off its petition drive with Dump Duke, saying voters should have a say in their electric bills.
tampabay.com
"300 East put a QR code on its door when it had to close recently for an outage, directing customers to share input with the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Managing partner Mike Poplin told WCNC that Duke should offer to cover lost wages or the cost of a generator for the restaurant."
Local restaurants say Duke outages are costing them thousands
Dilworth restaurants are suffering from repeat Duke outages.
axios.com
The group seeking to end Duke Energy's monopoly in St. Petersburg, Florida, has filed paperwork with the city to begin gathering signatures for a ballot measure to let voters decide whether to switch to a city-run utility.
"Dump Duke" files paperwork for St. Pete ballot measure
A St. Pete group filed paperwork for a ballot measure on Duke Energy as the city studies whether to switch to a city-run utility.
baynews9.com
Duke Energy applied to power a $10B Amazon data center in Hamlet, NC (Richmond County) with 57 diesel-fired generators as "bridge" power before the site's connected to Duke's grid. NC DEQ approved the permit Aug. 28. A thread on Duke's role. 🧵
NC DEQ approves air permits for giant Amazon data center in Richmond County
Opponents worry the center will cause more air pollution in an area already dealing with several industrial plants.
newsobserver.com
New from @newsobserver: NC Utilities Commissioner Tommy Tucker attended 3 conferences hosted by the Regulators Roundtable Institute in 2025-26 -- including a "member investor" dinner in Scottsdale, AZ, paid for by a group with ties to GOPAC. 🧵
Here Duke Energy points to the effects of climate change without acknowledging its role in driving it. The company is proposing to build 9.7 GW of additional natural gas capacity by 2033, which means putting even more heat-trapping methane pollution into the atmosphere.
NOAA confirms hottest month on record across the contiguous U.S.
Customers can access tools to track energy use and find assistance resources As high temperatures continue across much of North Carolina and South Carolina, Duke Energy is reminding customers about to...
investors.duke-energy.com
"Since early 2024, Duke’s Customer Assistance Program has provided a $42 monthly bill credit to help keep the lights on for tens of thousands of low-income residents," Canary Media reports. "But the three-year trial program is set to expire Dec. 31, and no replacement is on the horizon."
Duke Energy deals double whammy to its poorest North Carolina…
A pilot program that applies a credit to low-income households’ monthly bills is poised to end at the same time rates rise for everyone
canarymedia.com
Since entering the race for one of North Carolina's US Senate seats last year, Republican nominee Michael Whatley has accepted $10,000 from Duke Energy’s political action committee. At the same time, Whatley's family owns at least $149,000 in Duke Energy stock.
Whatley took Duke Energy cash as North Carolinians paid more
As Duke Energy seeks to further increase rates, Whatley accepted thousands in campaign contributions. His family also holds at least $149,000 in the company’s stock.
cardinalpine.com
The Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina was previously a longtime lobbyist for big oil and gas companies as well as Duke Energy, in which his family still holds stock. But you wouldn't know it from looking at his campaign website.
Whatley’s lobbying work not featured on campaign website
Whatley spent more than a decade lobbying for oil and natural gas companies.
spectrumlocalnews.com
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is calling for an 18-month moratorium on new large data centers across Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, "so the region can proactively set the terms of this buildout instead of inheriting the costly risks."
4 Reasons the Southeast Should Pause the Data Center Gold Rush - Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)
SACE is calling for an 18-month moratorium on new large data centers across Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
cleanenergy.org
The North Carolina Utilities Commission has started officially seeking proposals for a large load tariff -- essentially a new, standardized set of electric rates that data center operators will have to pay if they're powered by Duke Energy.
Data centers may face new tariffs next year in Duke Energy region in NC
North Carolina is eyeing a new tariff for data centers that would make developers pay for power grid upgrades.
newsobserver.com
If you'd like to learn about the history of Duke Energy's monopoly in North Carolina, how it's exercised, and how it's being challenged, @ncwarn.bsky.social and I have a webinar for you. It's Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 6-7 p.m. ET. Please join us!
