State regulators have delivered another blow to environmentalists trying to block a new power plant in Asheville. The North Carolina Utilities Commission says two groups must post a $98 million bond before they can appeal.
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Regulators order $98M bond in Duke plant fight — News Release from NC WARN
By setting a $98 million bond in today’s order, the Utilities Commission again has wrongly attempted to block our access to the courthouse – and shield itself and Duke Energy from scrutiny over the approval of a new $1 billion power plant in Asheville that is unneeded, would rely on a shaky supply of shale gas, and would further speed the climate crisis.
Duke Energy’s worrisome move to silence nonprofits — News & Observer
One of the most important roles that nonprofit organizations play in our society is that of values guardian… That Duke Energy wants two nonprofits to have to raise $240 million to challenge it in court shows how barriers can be erected to make it difficult for nonprofits to play this vital role. (Op-Ed by director of Institute for Nonprofits at NC State.)
Duke Energy’s planned power plant tied to fracking — Mountain Express
When Duke Energy announced it was canceling plans for a transmission line to a new plant in South Carolina, local environmentalists hailed it as a victory. The utility instead proposed two natural gas-powered units to replace the coal-fired generators at Lake Julian. But what wasn’t heard much during this feel-good narrative was a word that’s generated its own fair share of controversy in recent years: fracking.
Duke Energy wants 2 nonprofits to risk $240M to challenge it in court — News & Observer
What’s a reasonable cost for a nonprofit environmental organization to pay before it’s allowed to legally challenge a state power plant permit issued to the nation’s largest electric utility? Duke Energy’s suggestion: $240 million.
Groups Rebut Duke’s Latest Court-barring Bond Claim — News Release from NC WARN
In one of the strangest regulatory cases in state history, a 45-day rubber-stamp approval of a $1.1 billion gas-fired power plant in Asheville has been swamped by the subsequent 120-day battle over our right to appeal the pro-utility regulators’ ruling, a fight with no end in sight. Late yesterday NC WARN and The Climate Times filed an expert’s affidavit rebutting each point of Duke Energy’s recent call to escalate the appeal bond to $240 million.
Appeals Court Deals Blow to Duke Energy and Regulators in Power Plant Fight — News Release from NC WARN
Late today the NC Court of Appeals dealt a rare blow to the state utilities commission and Duke Energy by reversing an order that would have blocked a court appeal of a controversial power plant in Asheville. The court agreed with NC WARN and The Climate Times, who argued that a $10 million bond set by the commission as a condition of appealing the plant approval was not based on evidence.
Groups File Notice of Appeal vs Duke Energy Power Plant — News Release from NC WARN & The Climate Times
NC WARN and The Climate Times have filed Notice of Appeal in their efforts to expose a Duke Energy power plant proposed for Asheville as unneeded, and disastrous both for customers and for the increasingly urgent fight to slow global warming.
Groups Ask Appeals Court to Step in, Overturn $10 Million Bond in Power Plant Fight — News Release from NC WARN
Today NC WARN and The Climate Times called for the NC Court of Appeals to immediately suspend regulators’ efforts to block our appeal of a Duke Energy power plant in Asheville. Last week, the NC Utilities Commissioners ordered us to post a $10 million bond before we can ask the Court of Appeals to overturn the Commission’s rubber-stamp approval of the plant.
Duke Energy Seeks $50 million Bond from Critics during Appeal of Controversial Power Plant — News Release from NC WARN
Duke Energy is asking regulators to require a $50 million bond from NC WARN and The Climate Times if the two nonprofits appeal last month’s approval of a new gas-fired power plant in Asheville. The groups argue that the NC Utilities Commission rubber-stamped the project without considering expert witnesses who argue that the plant is not needed and would be disastrous for the climate crisis and risky for electricity customers.