THE TRUE COST OF POWER

When the small town of Carrboro dares to sue Duke Energy Corp. for decades of climate deception, a damning pattern emerges of corporate power run amok. Despite knowing about climate risks since the 1960s, North Carolina's monopoly energy utility has systematically misled the public while positioning itself as a clean energy leader. Through exclusive access to scientists, investigative journalists, and frontline communities, this documentary exposes the true cost of corporate power when billions in climate damages are paid by everyone except those who caused them.

18:00 / English w CC

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FEATURING

  • SUE STURGIS, Research and Communications Manager, Energy and Policy Institute

  • DREW SHINDELL, Professor of Climate Sciences, Duke University, IPCC Co-Author

  • SENATOR GRAIG MEYER, N.C. Senate District 23

  • JUHI MODI, NC Field Coordinator, Appalachian Voices

  • JIM WARREN, Executive Director, NC WARN

PRODUCTION

  • Director, Editor, Creative Producer - D.L. Anderson 

  • Story Editor, AE - Maura McNamara 

  • Story Research - Justin Cook 

  • GFX Design, Color - STUDIOSCOPIC

  • Sound Mix - Sam Costello

  • Project Producer - Leslie Raymond

IMPACT STRATEGY

18 min (w social assets) | 2025

CHALLENGE / A climate nonprofit needs to expose Duke Energy's decades-long deception and turn outrage into coordinated action as a new governor takes office.


APPROACH / A “true crime” documentary built for pressure campaigns: motion graphics to clarify corporate greenwashing, frontline voices to humanize the stakes, and distribution designed around coalition partners already organizing in Duke Energy's service territory.

“Since launching a pressure campaign with this video as the centerpiece, over 250 businesses and organizations and around 15,000 individuals joined the call on Gov. Josh Stein to use every tool in his toolbox to really change Duke Energy's direction.”

—  Sarah Heilman, Communications Director, NC WARN

Make It Plain: The myth of natural gas as a “bridge fuel.” (excerpt)