Duke Energy and the Koch Bros (and ALEC) Kill Clean Energy in NC

[ProfessionalLeftist]

As anticipated, former Duke Energy engineer and North Carolina Representative Mike Hager has introduced a version of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s “Electricity Freedom Act” into the state’s General Assembly.

. . .

At least seven of the bill’s sponsors are known affiliates of ALEC, including three of the four primary sponsors–Rep’s Mike Hager, Marilyn Avila, George Cleveland, Rayne Brown, Justin Burr, Sarah Stevens, and Mike Stone.

ALEC has many other members in the NC legislature, including House Speaker Thom Tillis, who just joined ALEC’s national Board of Directors.

ALEC’s Electricity Freedom Act, the model bill reflected in Rep. Mike Hager’s H298, was born from its Energy, Environment and Agriculture task force and was written by the Heartland Institute, a member of the task force. Other members of ALEC anti-environmental task force include Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, Peabody Energy and Duke Energy.

Despite heavy public pressure to disassociate from ALEC’s attacks on clean energy, climate policy and other controversial subjects like voter suppression, Duke Energy remains a paying member of ALEC. Duke helped finance ALEC’s conference in Charlotte last spring, where the Electricity Freedom Act was first drafted. . .

MORE...

http://www.nationofchange.org/duke-energy-koch-brothers-kill-clean-energy-north-carolina-1363444259

[octoberlib]

1. Same thing in IL, MI, WI, PA......

and probably some other states. I think it's one of ALEC's model bills.

[DAMANgoldberg]

2. Another problem...

The current governor of North Carolina, Pat McCrory (R-Charlotte), spent most of his public career including when he was mayor as an employee of Duke Power (now Duke Energy). Charlotte mayor is a "part-time" job financially. If this bill comes up for signing and repeal, a major conflict of interest is here, so it can pass without his signature.

[mmonk]

3. Thanks.

I plan to use this on my againstfrackingnc blog soon along with planned stories. Keep up the good work.