Duke Energy has pulled the plug on its membership with the National Association of Manufacturers.

The decision came earlier this year as part of the energy company’s effort to cut $100 million from its 2009 budget, according to company spokesman Tom Williams.

Duke, which had joined NAM largely to advocate on behalf of its manufacturers, also has a divergent opinion on the climate bill. Duke wants a cap-and-trade energy system; NAM takes the opposite view.

“The NAM does not comment on specific memberships,— said its communications director, Maureen Davenport. “We have a balanced policy on climate change that brings many users and producers of energy together toward a solution that will retain and create manufacturing jobs.—

The industrial sector accounts for about one-third of Duke’s energy output, one reason it is so focused on climate change legislation, said Williams.

NAM isn’t the first trade group to have issues with its members over climate change policy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also had serious differences of opinion with members like Johnson & Johnson over how vocal the trade group should be on the issue.