Duke Energy is America's largest coal ash polluter, with criminal convictions for Clean Water Act violations and documented groundwater contamination across multiple states. Its 72Mt annual Scope 1 emissions remain stubbornly high despite 48% cuts from 2005 baseline. The company lobbies against renewable standards while building new gas plants, undermining stated climate commitments.
Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleStrongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (6/10, 5/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (2/10, 2/10).
17 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.
12 of 17 sources are third-party verified or public record.
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Among the 17 major energy supply / utilities brands we've scored, Duke Energy is tied =16th of 17, with 1 other.
Score history begins 4 April 2026.
As Duke Energy's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.
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Duke Energy is a regulated utility generating and distributing electricity across the Carolinas, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, it is one of the largest power producers in the US, with 2022 revenue of $28.7 billion. The company operates coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewable generation.
Fellow US coal-heavy utility facing similar coal ash liability and climate transition lag.
View breakdown →US utility with higher renewable penetration; benchmark for energy source and emissions trajectory.
View breakdown →Major fossil fuel producer with comparable lobbying obstructiveness and climate deception allegations.
View breakdown →European utility with aggressive renewable build-out and lower coal exposure; comparison on transition pace.
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