Junk Corporate Activism Victimizes North Carolinians
If it's an election season, the left is going to be amped-up in their routine corporation-bashing. When it comes to energy companies, that's doubly true. But there's a political menace behind the rhetoric now that many overzealous climate crusaders are engaged - and there may be dangerous political and economic consequences. We're learning that there's a trickle-down effect: as high-level officials get more aggressive, lower-level officials feel empowered to "up their game."
The Attorney General of the Virgin Islands made an unprecedented step in subpoenaing the records of a political nonprofit in the new AG's war on energy policy. Attorneys general from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Virginia have teamed up to form "AGs United for Clean Power," which is a frightening thing for advocates of protected political activities.
This attack on our nation's energy producers is not relegated to just the national political stage. Environmental activists are also working with state regulators in North Carolina to punish Duke Energy and frighten the state's residents over alleged ground water pollution.
Last year, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued a do-not-drink order for residents living near coal ash storage ponds managed by Duke Energy. Coal ash is a by-product of coal after it is burned to produce energy. Duke Energy operates several coal ash storage sites across North Carolina. State health officials decided - in the absence of thorough scientific analysis - that the drinking water in wells adjacent to the coal ash storage sites had to be polluted and produced "tests" to back up their claims. Then they sent letters to residents warning them about the quality of their drinking water.
As it turns out, a subsequent analysis of municipal tap water samples taken from all over the state showed results that were virtually identical to the "dangerous" sample previously taken from wells located near Duke Energy's coal ash storage sites. It gets even better: State regulators had taken the extraordinarily frightening letters out despite the fact that the water quality fell within federal safety guidelines. As the Charlotte Observer reported, red-faced N.C. regulators "abruptly reversed course" on their advisories, announcing that any pollutants found in the water have been "at levels considered safe."
What's become painfully obvious is that the state regulators were attempting to carry water for zealous environmental groups' anti-energy agenda. Still, it's going to be difficult to un-ring that alarmism bell after scaring residents for more than a year. It will be equally challenging for regulators to win back trust. And the consequences to local utilities may not dissipate for years. NC regulators are even now conducting a review of Duke's coal ash storage sits around the state. Here is a perfect opportunity for state officials to work responsibly with the energy industry and not vilify Duke for cheap political gain. One can only hope state regulators avoid a "show trial" of Duke and offer a comprehensive, fair review of how Duke Energy is managing its coal ash storage sites, a task the company has taken seriously.
Even with this latest setback, shameless green groups are nevertheless running ads in North Carolina vilifying Duke Energy and are ramping up their attacks against the company over coal ash. Their motivation is clear: They want to link Republican Governor Pat McCrory - a former longtime Duke Energy employee - to a contrived "pollution" scandal. In other words, their campaign is a highly calculated attempt to go for a political "two-fer."
The real losers in this ugly campaign are the residents of North Carolina who have been needlessly frightened and misled by both state health officials and by radical environmentalists who will stop at nothing to bring down a trusted, much needed energy producer. It's time to dial back the rhetoric, ease up on the political posturing, and push the activists' manufactured hysteria to the sidelines.
