While seeking YUUUGE rate hike, Duke Energy hands out cash like it’s Halloween candy

They’ve been pushing expensive*alternative energy* scams on us for years.  They’ve jacked up rates on us 22 percent since 2020.  Now, Duke Energy wants to hit us with another rate hike — 18 percent. 

I could understand the rate hike if the goal was to legitimately keep up with the rising cost of doing business.  But recent media reports indicate Duke — while awaiting rate hike approval from the state – has been busy handing out $$$ goodie$ to folks across the state in the style of Santa, the Easter Bunny, The Money Fairy, and the folks on parade floats.  It sure looks like buying off potential critics of the proposed rate hike. ( It looks like at least $500,000 is being handed out statewide. )

Here’s the story from Moore County:

Six small businesses in Moore County have been named as recipients of the Duke Energy Foundation Small Business Impact Grant program from the Moore County Economic Development Partnership.

Selected from a pool of 44 applicants, the businesses will receive a combined total of $25,000 for upgrades and addition of food service, equipment and production capabilities, and reducing financial barriers to veterinary care.

The businesses include Eliza Quinn Creates in Carthage; James Creek Cider House in Cameron; Carolina Pine Inn Bar & Grill in Pinebluff; Jerry’s Homestead Provisions and Misty Morning Ranch in Robbins; Sandhills Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass; and Rec Room Arcade and Bar in Southern Pines.

Erin Rembert, owner of Eliza Quinn Creates, said in a time when it’s easy for small business owners to feel uncertain about the future, the program and awards allow entrepreneurs to invest in the community and their own growth.

“I think it’s important, especially in this (economic) environment, to know that the bigger economic development community recognizes the small businesses out there, because Moore County is growing so fast with bigger corporations and people moving here,” Rembert said. “To see that they were still focused on some of the smaller Mom and Pop businesses, noting how our growth is important to the overall change of Moore County, was exciting, but really confidence-boosting, too.”

In a release, MCEDP President Natalie Hawkins highlighted the importance of small business support and thanked the Duke Energy Foundation, which donated the funds that made the program possible in December. MCEDP used the funds to design the small business impact grants to “remove financial barriers” for small business growth in the county.

“These six businesses represent the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Moore County’s small business community so strong,” said Darryn Burich, business development director for MCEDP. “From agritourism and food service to veterinary care and custom manufacturing, each of these projects will create a more vibrant and resilient local economy. We are grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for making this investment in Moore County possible.”

Eliza Quinn Creates was awarded $5,000 to purchase laser and engraving equipment, which can expand its custom product offerings to include branded merchandise, signage and promotional items. The equipment can also create opportunities for collaborative production partnerships with other local businesses.

James Creek Cider House also won $5,000, with the plan to bring fresh food service to its tasting room. The release listed house-made cider doughnuts, crepes and raclette as potential menu items following the addition of commercial kitchen equipment. The capabilities would help strengthen Moore County’s growing agritourism sector by expanding the farm-to-table experience at the cidery.

Carolina Pine Inn Bar & Grill in Pinebluff gained $5,000 in a bid to add commercial-grade tables, stools and chairs, and reconfigure its floor plan to smooth guest movement and strengthen ADA compliance.

Misty Morning Ranch was awarded $5,000 to make storefront improvements for Jerry’s Homestead Provisions. Ultimately, additional investments from the company will amount to an estimated total $33,000 of infrastructure improvements for the business. The store is designed to grow sales of ostrich meat and ostrich-based products, showcase goods from local farms and promote agritourism in Moore County.

Sandhills Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass won $2,500 for its plan to provide core vaccination packages to lower-income households, “removing a financial barrier to routine preventive care,” which can reduce the need for costly interventions.

Rec Room arcade and bar in Southern Pines was also granted $2,500 to add a pizza oven at the venue, launching in-house food service and building long-term business sustainability. […]