The small town of Carrboro, North Carolina, has taken a historic step by filing a lawsuit against Duke Energy, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, accusing the company of decades-long climate deception. This lawsuit marks the first time a municipality has directly challenged an electric utility over public disinformation about the dangers of fossil fuels and the climate crisis.
Filed in North Carolina Superior Court, the lawsuit claims Duke Energy knowingly spread misinformation about climate change, funded efforts to discredit climate science, and delayed the transition to renewable energy, prioritizing profits over environmental responsibility. Carrboro leaders argue that Duke’s actions have inflicted significant costs on the town and its residents, as the community faces mounting expenses to adapt to worsening climate impacts.
