Greenpeace Sets Up Shop in CLT, Will Closely Watch Duke Energy

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by Fox Charlotte

Story Created: Jun 13, 2011 at 11:09 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 13, 2011 at 11:09 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - International environmental group Greenpeace says there are a few reasons it decided to open up an office in Charlotte:  our growing influence, growing population and a company it wants to keep an eye on. 

"We're hoping Duke (Energy) can be a leader in pushing forward the entire country towards a renewable energy future," says Monica Embrey.  She is the field organizer for Greenpeace in Charlotte.

The office opened one month ago, the same month the group rallied outside a Duke shareholder's meeting.

The decision to set up shop in the QC was made before the DNC announcement, but Embrey says, "Now a lot of folks are gonna be paying a lot of attention!"
 
Duke Energy says of Greenpeace, "We welcome them to Charlotte.  Duke Energy supports open and robust dialogue around energy issues."

Greenpeace wants North Carolina off coal, and on clean energy like wind or solar, as soon as possible.  Embrey says, "By 2030, Duke has a goal of having about 3% of its energy portfolio as renewable energy.  We're hoping to dramatically increase that."

A Duke spokesman disputes that information and says by 2021, renewable energy and energy efficiency will be at 12.5% for customers in  North Carolina.

Duke also has a target "retirement" date of 2015 for six power plants and 18 coal fired units in the Carolinas, including the Riverbend facility near Mountain Island Lake.

Greenpeace says "retirement" needs to happen sooner.  "Charlotte specifically has the worst air quality in the entire east coast and that is in large part attributed to our coal plants," says Embrey.

Greenpeace is sharing office space in a home off Central Avenue with another organization called Grassroots Leadership.  The decision to move to that part of town was strategic.  "We were looking at all the different neighborhoods and wanted somewhere centrally located, off bus lines, with parking and availability," says Embrey.

Greenpeace has offices in 41 countries. 

For more information on Greenpeace, go to http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/
For more information Duke Energy, go to https://www.duke-energy.com or https://www.sheddingalight.org/

 

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