Activists and Duke shareholders hold executives’ feet to the fire
Yesterday activists and shareholders took Duke Energy’s executives to task.
News outlets estimated that between 100 and 200 protestors took to the streets of Charlotte to protest Duke’s multiple environmental mishaps, including the infamous Dan River coal ash spill, as well as the company’s political spending.
A shareholder resolution requesting that Duke disclose all of its political contributions received 42.5 percent vote in favor. While the resolution didn’t receive a majority, it’s clear that political spending is important to Duke’s shareholders, and that executives will need to address their concerns.
Protestors also challenged CEO Lynn Good to take a canoe trip with them to visit the area of the Dan River. She accepted with a hand shake.
Check out some of the best tweets and images from the day below!
Duke Energy Protest on May 1 declared “extraordinary event,” giving police heightened search powers: http://t.co/olg4Ocrzpr
— James Browning (@jamesabrowning) April 29, 2014
RT @StuartCLT As shareholders arrive @dukeenergy protestors label HQ a “crime scene” #coalash pic.twitter.com/rWPsL5CQ01
— The Carolina Mercury (@NCMercury) May 1, 2014
.@sierraclub @NCWARN @FossilFreeAppSt @Greenpeace @AppVoices @charlotteenv rallying outside @DukeEnergy pic.twitter.com/aIC0fTI7T3 — Caroline Fountain (@FountainFOX46) May 1, 2014
Protesters getting started RT @bhender At Duke Energy’s annual shareholder meeting this morning. pic.twitter.com/C9Rxnf1VWW — Corporate Reform (@CorporateReform) May 1, 2014
MORE – People gather in uptown for Duke Energy protest http://t.co/q4jESlZA4j pic.twitter.com/hZwP8GzEa5
— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) May 1, 2014
Outside @DukeEnergy: we are keeping the noise up and asking that Duke does the right thing and moves #beyondcoal pic.twitter.com/plYsVPHX9P
— AVL Beyond Coal (@AVLBeyondCoal) May 1, 2014
The Raging Grannies singing outside Duke Energy Shareholder Meeting Demonstration. #coalash pic.twitter.com/Z5LnEADxcq
— CoalAshChronicles (@Coal_Ash) May 1, 2014
May 9, 2014 @ 9:40 pm
The photos are encouraging; I am only sorry that I do not live in or close to Charlotte to join these people.
We need more petitions to request accountability and “transparency” from this unconscionable corporation.
What we also need to do seriously is to demand from NC elected officials to allow at least ONE other energy company to become active in NC.