Source: Chapelboro
The Town of Carrboro is suing Duke Energy over its contributions to climate change, slow transition away from fossil fuels, and the resulting economic pressures put onto the local government and its residents.
Carrboro’s town council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the litigation during its business meeting on Tuesday night and filed the civil lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court on Wednesday morning. The challenge is the first of its kind from a local government against an energy provider over its knowledge of the risks of burning fossil fuels for power and its efforts to “mislead the public about its climate harms.”
The measure claims Duke Energy’s “extensive, unreasonable and unnecessary reliance upon fossil fuels in the conduct of its businesses” is causing climate change to be “materially exacerbated.” Additionally, Carrboro says Duke Energy not only knows its actions fuel global warming, but the utility giant continues to deceive the public on the effects of its operations and “greenwashes” its attempts to incorporate more renewable energy options.
