North Carolina

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts) Sat Feb 15, 2014, 09:58 AM Feb 2014

Gov. McCrory denies Duke coal ash deal involvement

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_COAL_ASH_SPILL_NORTH_CAROLINA?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Gov. McCrory denies Duke coal ash deal involvement
By MICHAEL BIESECKER
Associated Press
Feb 14, 10:17 PM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory denied Friday he had any talks with Duke Energy executives or lobbyists about his administration's scuttled deal to settle environmental violations at two of the $50 billion company's coal ash dumps for $99,000.

McCrory was asked about the agreement at a public event after his office had not responded to questions from The Associated Press.

Federal prosecutors on Monday served the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Duke with grand jury subpoenas demanding records as part of a federal investigation into the spill, which contaminated the river so badly the state has advised against prolonged contact with the water or eating fish.

"I have had no conversations with Duke Energy about the lawsuits or about the federal action," McCrory said.

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Gov. McCrory denies Duke coal ash deal involvement (Original Post) unhappycamper Feb 2014 OP

like a rug ... Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #1

No conversations. But he worked for them 28 yrs, & Duke bought him in the election = protection. Triana Feb 2014 #2

PeeEss Triana Feb 2014 #3

Glad he's on the record with that Lex Feb 2014 #4

I find this interesting!! I found this article in a local paper jkrichter Feb 2014 #5

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

1. like a rug ...

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 10:07 AM

Feb 2014

he lies.

Triana

(22,666 posts)

2. No conversations. But he worked for them 28 yrs, & Duke bought him in the election = protection.

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 10:46 AM

Feb 2014

From the above article:

His appointee to oversee the state environmental department that regulates emissions from Duke's power plants, Raleigh businessman John Skvarla, describes the agency's role as being a "partner" to those it regulates, whom he refers to as "customers."

McCrory said Friday he sees no conflict of interest in his role as elected official and corporate shareholder.

From: Democracy Now:

"Did state regulators intentionally block lawsuits against Duke Energy in order to shield the company where Republican Gov. Pat McCrory worked for 28 years?"

(I'd say it's mighty likely!)

From MotherJones (includes a link back to AP which covered the story on Feb 9th):

Last year, North Carolina's top environmental regulators thwarted three separate Clean Water Act lawsuits aimed at forcing Duke Energy, the largest electricity company in the country, to clean up its toxic coal ash pits in the state. That June, the state went even further, saying it would handle environmental enforcement at every one of Duke's 31 coal ash storage ponds in the state—an act that protected the company from further federal lawsuits. Last week, one of those coal ash storage ponds ruptured, belching more than 80,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River.

From ThinkProgress, which addresses the paltry "fine" state regulators imposed on Duke Energy:

“Given Duke’s $19.6 billion in 2012 operating revenues, that’s the equivalent of fining a person with a $60,000 salary a total of 30 cents,” said Democracy North Carolina in a statement.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory worked for Duke Energy for almost 30 years and still holds stock in the nation’s largest electric utility.

According to an analysis by Democracy North Carolina, McCrory received over $300,000 in direct campaign contributions from Duke-Energy related donors during his 2008 and 2012 gubernatorial races. The Republican Governors Association, which spent over $10 million supporting McCrory’s bid, also received around $760,000 from Duke.

The settlement now in question would have also required Duke to study how to stop the groundwater contamination, but would not have required the company to actually clean up its dumps.

Triana

(22,666 posts)

3. PeeEss

Reply to Triana (Reply #2)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 10:48 AM

Feb 2014

We don't call him McCrony for nuthin'

Lex

(34,108 posts)

4. Glad he's on the record with that

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 02:26 PM

Feb 2014

denial.

jkrichter

(46 posts)

5. I find this interesting!! I found this article in a local paper

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 08:04 PM

Feb 2014

http://www.hpe.com/opinion/x147182148/Kristine-Kaiser-McCrory-must-get-tough-on-Duke-Energy The article is about how Gov. McCrory is soft with Duke Energy because they were contributors to his campaign.. Today's news on WXII in the triad, they spoke of how Environmental Groups spotted another leak.. I just think it is strange when Duke Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the water was safe to drink and the leakage was contained when it wasn't. Thank GOD for environmental groups, because this would have been swept under the rug. McCrory needs to go!

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