AG Roy Cooper

Making me wonder even more about where Paul Newby's shadowy PAC money came from:

The N.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear Attorney General Roy Cooper’s claim that economic pain to customers wasn’t fully considered in Duke Energy Carolinas’ latest rate hike. Cooper is challenging a key factor in utility rates: Called the rate of return on equity, or ROE, it’s the profit margin utilities are allowed to earn on capital investments.

Highlighting another glaring contradiction between the faux-Libertarian John Locke Foundation and their supposed principles. The State guaranteeing profits for one corporation (especially during a recession) is the anti-thesis of a free market. They whine like puppies about the REPS, but don't make a squeak about this or CWIP (Construction Work in Progress), which allows utilities to charge us for power that isn't even being generated yet. Total ideological fail.

Jack Betts details the fight against cross-state pollution:

That agreement essentially gave North Carolina more than it would have won under Thornburg's ruling. It requires TVA to close at least 18 old coal-fired units at three plants, reducing harmful emissions significantly. It commits TVA to spending from $3 to $5 billion in the cleanup process. It directs TVA to either clean up or close down the four plants closest to North Carolina, and requires TVA to pay $11.2 million to this state over five years for energy efficiency initiatives.

This was also a victory for Tennessee, although it may not be apparent to them right now. Good job, Roy.