Climate Change
Environmental shifts and global warming impacts
Latest stories
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September heat pushes North Carolina illness visits higher as experts warn of hidden toll
North Carolina has recorded nearly 5,900 heat-related emergency department visits since May 1, but health officials say the data likely capture only part of the impact.
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Summer 2026 was one of the hottest on record in many North Carolina cities
It's been in the top-five hottest summers in the Triangle, Sandhills, Wilmington, Lumberton and the Triad.
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Warming waters could expand brain-eating amoeba risk
A North Carolina teenager is critically ill with the rare infection as scientists study how rising temperatures could change where and when the amoeba thrives.
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Hot days, hotter nights: Raleigh is losing its overnight relief
Raleigh now experiences about 40 more unusually warm summer nights than it did in the 1970s. Scientists say climate change is reducing overnight relief from extreme heat, increasing health risks and cooling costs.
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El Niño could become strongest on record. What it means for North Carolina
A potentially record-breaking El Niño is changing the forecast for the months ahead in North Carolina — including hurricane season and winter.
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Duke Energy bill too high? These changes are saving one Raleigh man up to $50 a month
A Raleigh man said Duke Energy programs and simple changes to when he uses electricity save him up to $50 a month, even as summer heat drives up cooling costs.
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Duke Energy rate hike hearings resume in NC. How much could your power bill increase?
Duke Energy Progress has cut its proposed rate increase by more than half, but customers would still pay more as regulators consider a settlement.
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As another week of heat settles in, Duke Energy rate hike heads back before regulators
Another stretch of 90-degree temperatures is driving up cooling costs as Duke Energy defends its proposed rate hike before state regulators.
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Climate change, cyber threats are reshaping how NC utilities protect drinking water
Inside local treatment plants, utilities are rethinking everything from drought planning to cybersecurity as they prepare for the decades ahead.
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Drought can affect your drinking water long after the rain returns
Rain is improving North Carolina's drought, but experts say changing water quality remains a concern. Here's how utilities are adapting and what private well owners should know.
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How extreme heat is changing Americans' lives, according to a new AP-NORC poll
A new AP-NORC poll finds that Americans are increasingly noticing the impact of extreme heat on their lives, and they say much of that shift is happening in the West and Midwest. According to the survey, U.S. adults nationally have become more likely to say extreme heat has had either “a major im...
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First West Nile virus case of 2026 in Gaston County
North Carolina's first case of West Nile virus has been detected in Gaston County by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
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Public hearing set for nearly 650 diesel generators tied to Amazon data center
A public hearing Thursday will focus on draft air permits for Amazon's backup generators and Duke Energy's temporary bridge power generators in Richmond County.
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Mosquitoes are evolving to survive common backyard sprays
Resistance to common mosquito sprays is spreading rapidly across Wake County. Here’s how pest-control companies are responding and what homeowners can do.
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Mosquitoes are evolving to survive common backyard sprays
Resistance to common mosquito sprays is spreading rapidly across Wake County. Here’s how pest-control companies are responding and what homeowners can do.
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Duke students begin grad program in sustainability with cross-country drive in EV
Duke University is addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change with its new Master in Business, Climate and Sustainability program. The program aims to prepare students like Parker Raposa and Lauren Schiff, who began their journeys to Duke with a commitment to sustainable practices.
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Duke Energy's battery strategy grows as data centers reshape North Carolina's grid
Duke Energy is betting on battery storage to help meet North Carolina's growing electricity demand as regulators weigh rate increases and data center cost protections.
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Students drive electric truck across country to join Duke's new climate-business program
After a seven-day road trip in an electric truck, two students arrived at Duke to join a new graduate program focused on business, climate and sustainability.
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Utilities sought record rate increases this spring as Duke's request remains before NC regulators
A new report found utilities sought a record-high $9.2 billion in rate increases during the second quarter. North Carolina accounts for nearly $900 million of those requests, including Duke Energy's filings.
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EPA replaces PFAS sewage sludge assessment, drawing concern over 'forever chemicals'
The EPA is backing away from a scientific review of "forever chemicals" in fertilizer made from sewage. Critics say the move could put farms and drinking water at risk.
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Before your Fourth of July plans, here's what to know about dangerous humid heat
Heading outdoors this Fourth of July? Here's why humidity can make the heat much more dangerous and why climate change is increasing those risky days.
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As Raleigh swelters, new report shows World Cup heat is on the rise
As Team USA takes the field, a new analysis finds climate change is making World Cup host cities hotter, increasing heat risks for players and millions of fans.
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Microsoft hosts meeting on future Person County data center amid AI tensions
The company hosted a meeting with neighbors in Person County on Tuesday. County residents were asked to share their concerns and questions about the planned Microsoft Mega Park.
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North Carolina House committee advances bill ending tax break for new solar projects
A North Carolina House committee approved a bill ending a property tax break for new utility-scale solar projects starting in 2027. Existing solar facilities would not be affected.
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The growing movement to end balloon releases in North Carolina
Balloon releases may seem harmless, but environmental advocates say they can threaten wildlife, pollute waterways and even cause power outages.
