The nation's largest electric utility has skewed its political contributions to give anti-regulatory Republicans a better shot at capturing control of the Senate, as has the industry at large. But Duke and other utilities are hedging their bets by backing key incumbent Democrats, including Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.
Image:
Duke Energy's coal-fired power plant outside Asheville, North Carolina. The company would have to curb carbon emissions under EPA rules that utilities have been battling, and they're cultivating political allies to help them in their fight. (Photo by Will Thomas via Flickr.)
Image Caption:
Duke Energy's coal-fired power plant outside Asheville, North Carolina. The company would have to curb carbon emissions under EPA rules that utilities have been battling, and they're cultivating political allies to help them in their fight. (Photo <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/96491161@N03/13358623244/in/photolist-nFPzyt-jTKn7M-jTKn88-nFURpC-nFUTbd-npBP8E-nFUTKQ-npBRzV-nFUSrN-npC7c1-mmsrhq-mmeZaF-fftdSX-ffHsDS-ffHsSS">by Will Thomas via Flickr</a>.)