Duke Energy and other utilities, particularly in the South, are pushing to add new natural gas plants like this Florida facility. (Photo by Glen Richard/iStock Images Getty Images)

The growing global movement to make energy and utility companies help pay for some of the massive damage caused by climate change continues to gain momentum.

Last week, the North Carolina town of Carrboro sued Duke Energy seeking compensation for big and growing expenses it’s facing thanks to the impacts of severe weather driven in part by climate change.

And while it would be one thing if Duke hadn’t understood that its fossil fuel emissions are among the chief causes of climate change, as the suit explains in great detail, the company’s corporate predecessors have known about the link for several decades.

Indeed, not only did the companies know about it, but the suit also alleges that they actively joined utility industry disinformation campaigns that sought to deny the science surrounding climate change and to block the enactment of caps on greenhouse gas emissions.

The bottom line: It’s well established American law that corporate polluters can be billed for the messes they create. Let’s hope the Carrboro suit against Duke succeeds and that other jurisdictions follow its lead.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.