CARRBORO, N.C.— The Town of Carrboro sued Duke Energy Corp. today for the company’s decades-long role leading a nationwide climate deception scheme that has worsened the climate crisis, harmed the community and cost the town millions of dollars. The lawsuit seeks to hold Duke Energy accountable for the damages inflicted on Carrboro by the corporation’s campaign to delay the transition from planet-heating fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Town officials will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. today at Carrboro Town Hall to discuss the lawsuit, which is the first to challenge an electric utility for knowingly deceiving the public about fossil fuels’ dangers.
“We have to speak truth to power as we continue to fight the existential threat that is climate change. The climate crisis continues to burden our community and cost residents their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee. “Duke Energy’s knowledge of the environmental injustice being caused by the use of fossil fuels has unfairly plagued our community for decades. Historically underserved and marginalized communities are facing disproportionate impacts and health risks that are associated with climate change. This was not an easy decision to make but I believe that we must be
courageous as we call out these injustices and seek change and accountability.”
