CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A campaign watchdog group says Duke Energy increased its contributions to the Republican Governors Association as the utility became mired in coal ash problems.
The Charlotte Observer reports (https://bit.ly/1I75eyo) Democracy North Carolina reported the contributions, which were verified by the newspaper. The group said Duke was the association’s top corporate donor in 2014.
A Duke power plant in Eden spilled up to 39,000 tons of ash into the Dan River in February 2014. Four months late, Duke gave the association $275,000. Three more donations followed in 2014 for a total of $3.05 million, or more than 10 times Duke’s previous annual high total to the group.
Duke Energy contributed to Gov. Pat McCrory’s 2012 election campaign. McCrory is a former Duke executive who is expected to seek re-election in 2016.
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Information from: The Charlotte Observer, https://www.charlotteobserver.com
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