Duke Energy's Position

Most scientists believe that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are influencing the earth’s climate. Although there’s much to learn about the cause and effect of climate change, consensus is building that steps should be taken now to reduce these emissions. Duke Energy shares that view.

We have a responsibility to our customers, our investors and our communities to play a lead role in shaping a national policy that addresses this challenge responsibly and fairly. We must be good stewards of the environment. We must do our part to meet the nation’s growing energy needs and to keep our energy prices affordable. We need predictability to make sound plans for electric generation and natural gas infrastructure.

We are concerned about patchwork policies focused on a single industrial sector or particular region of the country. We are concerned about approaches that could have grave and unintended impacts on the U.S. economy or that could result in rapid or extreme rate increases for electricity and natural gas customers.

We favor a U.S. policy on climate change that:

  • Is economy-wide in its reach, rather than targeting a single industry for emissions reductions
  • Is national in scope, yet considers varying impacts across regions and economic sectors
  • Is market-based, with price signals leading to technological innovation and investment, energy efficiency and conservation
  • Begins to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now, and does so gradually over time
  • Is simple to administer and provides price certainty.

Such a policy could be achieved through a cap-and-trade approach. The important thing is that we get to work now. Duke Energy believes that voluntary programs are not enough. Congress needs to establish a national, economy-wide greenhouse gas mandatory program as soon as possible. A sustainable path to reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions should become part of a worldwide response to this global issue.

Duke Energy's Call to Action (PDF, 124 KB)

Carbon Cap and Trade: We Need to Get it Right  (PDF, 731 KB)