caswell

https://twitter.com/AP/stat...7180907520

AP NEWS: BREAKING: Internal emails show coordination between Duke Energy and NC officials on coal ash lawsuits.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/...ash-spill/

NC cuts 13 percent of water protection agency only weeks after massive coal ash spill

North Carolina has moved forward with a decision to cut 13 percent of the agency responsible for protecting water resources even as one of the nation's largest coal ash spills continued to devastate rivers in the state.

Last month, the Duke Energy plant in Eden discovered that gray coal ask sludge was leaking out of a storage pond into the Dan River.

Gov. Pat McCrory (R), a former executive at Duke Energy, has been criticized for his close ties to the company, and for receiving more than $1 million in campaign donations from the company and its employees.




The News & Observer reported last week that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had eliminated 13 percent of the staff positions from the Division of Water Resources only weeks after the coal spill was discovered.

Then I can guess that you do not own any Duke Power stock:)

Duke also said the Dan River site was the only one with a corrugated metal pipe, but later said there were eight others elsewhere.

That is unacceptable.

The troublesome pipes that ran beneath the Duke Energy coal ash ponds at the Dan River plant caught the eye of third-party inspectors at least as far back as 1986.

Five-year reports filed with the state Utilities Commission show the pipes were no secret to Duke, which hired the private inspectors for the facility, which dates back to the 1940s. A 1986 report pointed out one of the pipes was made out of corrugated metal and so would have a shorter longevity.

http://www.newsobserver.com...river.html

No matter what they decide, the customers, i.e., us, will end up paying for it in the long run. Duke's not going to operate at a loss, so the cost will be passed on. That you can depend on.

Unless they exceed $7,000,000,000 dollars on cleanup they're not operating at a loss, since that was their profits last year.

They need to step up.

No matter what they decide, the customers, i.e., us, will end up paying for it in the long run. Duke's not going to operate at a loss, so the cost will be passed on. That you can depend on.

http://www.wral.com/mccrory.../13465830/

Attorney General Roy Cooper: -- he's opposed to allowing Duke Energy to charge utility customers for the removal of its coal ash ponds:

Roy Cooper: "Duke Energy should clean up the coal ash at its own expense, and we will fight for consumers if the company tries to charge them," Cooper said in a statement."

Governor Pat McCrory -- He's opposed to telling Duke Energy what to do about cleanup and to "keep the politics out" of the decision of who pays for cleaning up coal ash sites across North Carolina.

Pat McCrory: "The Utilities Commission is the commission that needs to make these very difficult decisions, and one of the things we are going to do is keep the politics out of this very serious environmental problem,"

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So McCrory wants to keep politics out of it while he has his political buddies in the Util Commission decide how to move forward.

Roy Cooper is going to wipe the floor with Mr. Duke Energy in '16

Quackquack (view profile)	Posted 9:59 am, 03/10/2014
Wilbar Do you think we as tax payers need to pay Duke for cleaning up the Ash pill in Ashe?Duke is loaded with Money and they pay no FEDERAL TAX.

I must have missed it but where and how did Duke have an ash spill in Ashe?

Eat At Moes (view profile)	Posted 12:48 pm, 03/10/2014
Monopolies are also unconstitutional under the NC Constitution. Well, it's weird we have both an Electric and Cable monopoly. I think it's BS, but that's my liberal brain for you.

Yes it is weird and I have wonder who they get away with it. Here is the section I am talking about

Sec. 34. Perpetuities and monopolies.

Perpetuities and monopolies are contrary to the genius of a free state and shall not be allowed.

Monopolies are also unconstitutional under the NC Constitution.

Well, it's weird we have both an Electric and Cable monopoly. I think it's BS, but that's my liberal brain for you.

Eat At Moes (view profile)	Posted 12:36 pm, 03/10/2014
\But, why I think simply does not matter. I'll have to pay whatever they charge, or do without electricity. I like electricity, and will keep it as long as affordable. Which is why Utility Monopolies are so detrimental to a free and capitalist society

Monopolies are also unconstitutional under the NC Constitution.

HIPPIEGIRL (view profile)	Posted 10:33 am, 03/10/2014
Why then when Duke gets a rate increase mine doesn't? Enlighten me please. I am with Energy United and they tell me that it is Membership owned. Seriously, don't assume I am stupid because I don't understand.

Because when your power company buys it power from Duke or who ever else they buy from they agree to a set rate for a certain amount of power for a certain time. Also some Co-ops generate some of there own power Bremco for example had a Hydro eclectic dam on the new river in Ashe county out Hwy 88. They have since sold it and pay the man who brought it 3 or 4 cents a KW hour.

\But, why I think simply does not matter. I'll have to pay whatever they charge, or do without electricity. I like electricity, and will keep it as long as affordable.

Which is why Utility Monopolies are so detrimental to a free and capitalist society

The point that was missed, apparently, was, if you're not running a generator and making your own power, it's coming from Duke, directly or indirectly, no matter what the name says on your bill.

That was my point. Please see above paragraph.

Now, of course I also think Duke should pay for their own cleanup, and not the taxpayers. However, it's a tricky situation because the state regulates how much they can increase rates, so the state already has a hand in it to begin with.

But, why I think simply does not matter. I'll have to pay whatever they charge, or do without electricity. I like electricity, and will keep it as long as affordable.

Then what is your point?

Did I say that?

The point that was missed, apparently, was, if you're not running a generator and making your own power, it's coming from Duke, directly or indirectly, no matter what the name says on your bill.

And that should absolve them of having to pay for the cleanup without passing the cost on to the consumer?

Why then when Duke gets a rate increase mine doesn't? Enlighten me please. I am with Energy United and they tell me that it is Membership owned. Seriously, don't assume I am stupid because I don't understand.

The point that was missed, apparently, was, if you're not running a generator and making your own power, it's coming from Duke, directly or indirectly, no matter what the name says on your bill.