Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power companies in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, but with a broad reach, it supplies energy to some four million customers in the Carolinas, portions of the Midwest, Canada and Latin America. The company is involved in both franchised electric utilities and wholesale power generation. Its various plants operate on coal, oil, nuclear power and hydrogen energy.
Duke Energy was founded in 1900 as the Catawba Power Company. It enjoyed a humble beginning: one hydro-electric plant. Company founders soon invested in the Southern Power Company, later renamed Duke Power. The company thrived after World War II, acquiring various companies, including Nantahala Power and Light (1988) and Cinergy Corporation (2005). The company became Duke Energy following a 1997 merger with PanEnergy.
Duke Energy has collected a number of citations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency filed a complaint in 2000 in the U.S. District Court when Duke violated the Clean Air Act. The company had made renovations to old coal-burning facilities without obtaining necessary permits and without installing required emission controls. Opponents accused the company of looking for loopholes that allowed them to increase emissions.
In 2002, a study identified Duke as the 46th-largest corporate producer of air pollution in the United States. The study, conducted by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, noted that Duke released 36.6 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air that year. A follow-up study showed Duke responsible for releasing 80.21 million pounds in 2005, making it the 12th-largest U.S. producer of air pollution.
Duke Energy and Asbestos
Inside Duke Energy’s plants, workers long were exposed to toxic asbestos. Asbestos was primarily used as insulation for items such as electrical wires, generators and pipes and may have been found in gaskets, valves and a variety of other machine parts. Some power plant workers may have even worn protective clothing made from asbestos cloth.
For years, asbestos was called a "miracle mineral" because of its excellent heat-resistant properties. Plant owners considered it an essential product even after evidence showed asbestos exposure was dangerous. Medical journals from the 1930s contained articles that discouraged the use of asbestos, noting its tiny fibers embedded in lungs of workers, eventually making them sick. Regardless, most plant owners kept using the material, largely because it was significantly less expensive than alternative insulations.
Duke Energy and Asbestos Litigation
The U.S. government issued warnings in 1977 about asbestos and began regulating its use. Following this, former power plant employees realized that their past occupational hazards had caused the pulmonary diseases from which they suffered. It also became apparent that plant owners had hidden their knowledge of the toxicity of asbestos.
As a result of this negligent behavior, lawsuits were filed on behalf of those suffering from asbestos-related diseases. Duke Energy noted in 2001 that it faced numerous personal injury claims associated with asbestos use in construction and maintenance tasks during the 1960s and 1970s. The company stated that the number of claims had increased significantly since 1977, prompting it to secure insurance to cover approximately $1.6 billion in claims.
Resources for Power Plant Workers
If you worked for Duke Energy prior to the 1980s, you were at high risk for exposure to asbestos. That’s especially true if you were a welder, insulator, electrician, pipefitter or steamfitter. If you have experienced symptoms that include coughing, chest pain and breathing difficulties, you may be suffering from an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos diseases can remain latent for several decades, so periodic testing is recommended even for those who do not show symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses. Regular check-ups can help determine the presence of any lung-related problems and may result in an earlier diagnosis. To find a mesothelioma testing center near you, call a Patient Advocate at (800) 615-2270 or complete the form on this page for more information.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Monday, March 12th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
