North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and his family benefited from a deal he leveraged with energy executives while serving as governor, according to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The allegations, now resurfacing in the high-stakes Senate race, center on Cooper's role in brokering an agreement between Duke Energy and solar companies — including Strata Solar — that critics say blurred the line between public duty and private gain.
According to the reports, Cooper used his authority over a key Atlantic Coast Pipeline permit to "leverage" a deal that ultimately resulted in Duke Energy purchasing more solar power.
That agreement, critics argue, directly benefited Cooper's family through a lucrative land lease with Strata Solar tied to property in Nash County.
Public records show that Cooper and his brother inherited roughly 40 acres of land and later leased it to a Strata Solar subsidiary under a long-term agreement reportedly worth more than $1 million a year.
While Cooper has said he divested from direct management of the property, filings indicate the land remains under the control of a family-linked company.
Reporting from WBTV in 2019 lends further weight to the controversy.
Thousands of pages of internal emails and text messages show that Cooper's senior staff delayed final approval of the pipeline permit while closely monitoring negotiations between Duke Energy and solar companies.
In one exchange, advisers suggested holding off on the agreement "unless [the] solar deal works," raising questions about whether state power was used to influence private-sector outcomes.
At the same time, solar executives were actively seeking Cooper's involvement.
One CEO emailed the governor requesting "guidance and support," including potentially contacting Duke leadership — a request that was later included in internal briefing materials reviewed by his office.
Cooper has denied any improper coordination, insisting the pipeline permit and solar negotiations were “completely separate issues.”
However, critics say the timing and internal communications suggest otherwise.
The controversy extends beyond a single deal.
As governor, Cooper championed aggressive green energy policies, including executive orders aimed at reducing carbon emissions and expanding renewable energy production.
Those policies, outlined in state energy plans, directed utilities to increase solar capacity — a move that could indirectly benefit solar developers and associated land leases, such as the one tied to his family.
The Carolina Journal reported in 2023 that while Cooper may no longer directly profit from the solar lease, his family continues to benefit from the arrangement, fueling ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest and transparency.
For Republicans, the issue underscores broader questions about political favoritism and the influence of green energy donors in shaping public policy.
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