Press Release: Nonprofit Sustain Charlotte is Returning $10,000 to Duke Energy, Urges Them to Lead Clean Energy Transition
Charlotte, NC – March 26, 2025 – Sustain Charlotte, a Charlotte-based nonprofit, is returning $10,000 to Duke Energy following the company’s recent advocacy against EPA regulations designed to protect human health by reducing coal ash pollution and climate-changing emissions generated by electric utilities.
The funds had been awarded as a sponsorship for the annual Sustain Charlotte Awards held on April 28, making Duke Energy the top sponsor of the event.
The country’s largest electric utility company, which provides electricity in six states, was the lead signatory on a January 15 letter to “Nominee-to-be EPA Administrator” Lee Zeldin urging the rollback of regulations that aim to protect communities from the harmful effects of coal ash, greenhouse gas emissions, and other pollutants.
At the time, Zeldin was still President Trump’s nominee to lead the agency, reflecting Duke’s desire to seize the opportunity presented by Zeldin’s nomination. In a video released March 12, Zeldin confirmed that opportunity when he announced, “We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.”
Sustain Charlotte, which operates in Duke Energy’s hometown, said they could not accept funding from an organization actively working to slow the transition to clean energy and weaken EPA regulations finalized last year that aim to safeguard public health and accelerate the transition from burning fossil fuels to less carbon intensive sources like solar and wind.
In 2023, Duke Energy’s electricity generation from fossil fuels accounted for 46.1% of its total electricity production, with natural gas and oil making up the greatest share at 33.3% and coal accounting for 12.8%
“Duke Energy has the resources and influence to be a true leader in the shift to clean, renewable energy,” said Shannon Binns, Sustain Charlotte’s founder and executive director. “We urge them to embrace that role and actively support policies that accelerate the transition to healthier, sustainable communities across our country. Until then, we cannot promote them as a company that is aligned with our mission.”
Community Support Needed
As a local nonprofit dedicated to advancing sustainability in the Charlotte region with no national affiliate, Sustain Charlotte relies on community support to fund their work. To continue their mission-driven advocacy and replace this lost funding, they are calling on local residents, businesses, and supporters of a faster transition to clean energy across the country to contribute.
“Sustain Charlotte has been a vital voice for sustainability in our region, and their decision to put principle over funding shows their commitment to real change,” said Jeff Robbins, Executive Director of CleanAire NC. “Now, it’s up to all of us to step up and ensure they have the resources to continue their critical work.”
“We hope Duke Energy will take stronger action to protect our climate and public health, and we remain open to working with them if they do,” said Sustain Charlotte Board Member Bill Staton. “In the meantime, we need our community’s support to continue pushing for the policies and solutions that will create a healthy, equitable, and sustainable Charlotte region.”
To contribute, visit: https://sustaincharlotte.org/take-action/standup
For media inquiries, please contact: Lauren Sawyers at lauren.sawyers@sustaincharlotte.org
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Sustain Charlotte is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to create a more equitable, healthy, and connected community by inspiring responsible growth and transportation choices. We advance this mission by partnering with neighborhood residents, community leaders, government agencies, local and regional officials, academic institutions, businesses, and nonprofits alike, all with the objective of forging solutions through collaboration. https://sustaincharlotte.org/