Consumer group targets Duke Energy’s ESG goals in ad campaign.

A Consumer Group Takes on Duke Energy’s “Woke” ⁤Policies

A ‌leading consumer group, ⁣Consumers’ Research, has launched a campaign against North Carolina-based utility provider Duke Energy.⁢ The group⁣ claims that Duke Energy’s prioritization of ⁤”woke” policies is driving up consumer costs. In a letter to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Consumers’⁤ Research⁣ outlines its concerns about the company’s “climate agenda” and its impact on utility prices for residents in the ⁢state.

“As the nation’s oldest consumer protection organization, Consumers’ Research’s⁢ purpose is to educate consumers on issues that impact them and amplify their‍ voice‍ in the marketplace,” says Will‍ Hild, the director of Consumers’ Research, in the ⁢letter. “It is for this reason that we implore the ⁤commission⁢ to put an end to the abuse of North Carolina‌ consumers by Duke Energy.”

Hild took to X, the social media platform⁢ formerly known as Twitter, to announce the campaign, stating that ⁤Duke Energy has admitted to⁢ increasing prices on American families to fund their ESG initiatives. The campaign aims to target Duke Energy customers, deploying mobile billboards critical of⁣ the company’s efforts in both Charlotte and Los Angeles.

Consumers’ Research‌ has also launched a website to raise awareness about Duke Energy’s “climate agenda”⁣ and its environmental, social,‌ and governance (ESG) initiatives. ⁣According to Hild, Duke⁢ Energy plans to increase consumer costs by nearly 20% over the next three years due to their new ESG policies, which include retiring‍ fossil fuel plants​ earlier than expected and installing EV ⁤chargers across the state.

In an interview with​ the Washington Examiner, Hild expressed his objection ​to Duke Energy’s CEO Lynn Good’s focus on fighting climate change and reducing ‌carbon emissions as the core of their ​business model. Hild believes that⁢ the company should prioritize delivering affordable and reliable energy for consumers.

This campaign is part of Consumers’ Research’s broader effort to call out companies and investment⁢ firms that prioritize “woke” policies over consumer interests. While the group‍ has previously targeted BlackRock and Bank of ⁣America’s ESG policies, this is the first time they have taken‌ on a utility ⁤provider like⁢ Duke Energy.

“Perhaps the most abusive use of Duke’s‌ resources has been their political advocacy ‍of anti-consumer ‘net zero’ ‍policies,” ⁣writes Hild. “It is a ‌clear conflict of interest for⁣ Duke Energy to support policies that increase costs for the company while passing those ⁣costs onto ‍their customers through rate hikes.”

Duke Energy has declined to⁣ comment on the campaign.

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