Charlotte Democrats who voted to weaken carbon goals have history of Duke Energy donations (Axios)
Two Charlotte Democrats who voted Tuesday to roll back Duke Energy’s carbon emissions reduction mandate have accepted thousands in campaign contributions from the utility’s political action committee.
Why it matters: The override of Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 266 has raised concerns about the influence of corporate and dark money in the legislature.
What they’re saying: Sustain Charlotte, an environmental advocacy group, called out Majeed and Cunningham in a press release, saying the officials should be held accountable for prioritizing “utility profits over the people they represent.”
“This vote releases Duke from any legal obligation to reduce climate pollution until 2050, despite overwhelming scientific consensus that we must act much sooner,” says Shannon Binns, the group’s executive director, who called the vote an “out-of-touch decision,” especially during a heat wave in North Carolina, and months after Helene.