The people of NC WARN are deeply saddened by the unprecedented suffering across states devastated by Hurricane Helene. We applaud the courageous dedication of utility workers, FEMA and all those at the center of the recovery efforts.
We also sympathize with the many North Carolinians still out of their homes six years after Hurricane Matthew, and Florence earlier, devastated eastern NC – and our concern is deepened by scientists’ warning of even stronger storms to come.
At long last, North Carolina leaders must demand and facilitate an open discussion about the transition to generating and storing solar power where electricity is being used – particularly on the vast, untapped resource provided by roofs, parking areas and contaminated land.
Such local solar-plus-storage (SPS) is the fastest, cheapest and fairest way to phase out climate-wrecking fossil fuels. And ramping up SPS would greatly reduce the reliance on the transmission infrastructure that’s increasingly vulnerable to climate disasters and acts of malice [1].
Since 2017, NC WARN engineers have been demonstrating to Duke Energy executives and state regulators that SPS can and must become a central part of the urgent effort to get off fossil fuels [2]. Our new Sharing Solar proposal and statewide campaign highlight the multiple resiliency benefits of a local SPS approach – such as keeping emergency facilities and shelters operable when power lines go down [3].
BLOCKING THE WAY
Tragically, Duke’s leaders and state regulators keep undermining the state’s rooftop solar industry while greatly expanding the use of fracked fossil gas – the very methane that scientists increasingly warn is a key driver of global heating [4].
Ironically, Duke Energy leaders and allies want to spend billions of customer dollars to build the very same, vulnerable power lines, towers and transformers across eastern NC – the state’s most frequent hurricane target and the same underserved communities that blocked Duke’s $8 billion Atlantic Coast gas Pipeline in 2020.
Climate-worsened hurricanes such as Helene are exactly why a world-leading climate polluter like Duke Energy cannot be allowed to continue dictating North Carolina’s path forward.
The state’s rooftop solar companies, currently reeling from Duke and regulators’ attack on net metering, could be the key to expanding local solar right away – beginning with emergency facilities, hospitals, and shelters.
Along with halting the expansion of methane gas, North Carolina could finally begin helping to slow the climate crisis while building communities that can better withstand the effects of disasters like Helene.
Our sympathies are with all the people who are hurting and we remain determined to help turn the tide so that North Carolina finally begins to help slow the global climate emergency.
This article was published first by NC WARN.
Work Cited
“Sharing Solar Issue Brief #1: How Does It Improve Resiliency?" NC WARN, 18 Oct. 2024, www.ncwarn.org/sharing-solar-resiliency.
Warren, Jim. “Local Solar & Batteries Can Rapidly Replace Fossil Fuel Electricity, Save 10s of Billions, Create 1000s of Jobs Across North Carolina, Says Energy Engineer.” NC WARN, 14 Sept. 2018, www.ncwarn.org/2017/08/local-solar-batteries-can-rapidly-replace-fossil-fuel-electricity-in-nc.
“The Quickest, Most Affordable Way to Tackle the Climate Crisis and Cut Power Bills.” NC WARN, 7 Oct. 2024, www.ncwarn.org/sharing-solar-summ.
Friedlander, Blaine. “Liquefied Natural Gas Carbon Footprint Is Worse Than Coal.” Cornell Chronicle, 3 Oct. 2024, news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/10/liquefied-natural-gas-carbon-footprint-worse-coal.
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