Clean energy advocates react to Duke Energy’s proposed Carbon Plan

Chapel Hill, N.C. - Clean energy groups involved in the North Carolina Utilities Commission proceeding to develop a new state plan for reducing heat-trapping carbon pollution from electricity generation-known as the Carbon Plan-reacted to a proposed plan by regulated monopoly Duke Energy. Coming after the state legislature's new law eliminating the interim carbon pollution reduction requirement, risking significant increased residential energy bills and putting North Carolinians on the financial hook for expensive new gas plants and unproven technologies. Duke Energy's plan does not do enough to take advantage of cost saving energy efficiency and demand response and less polluting clean energy sources like solar, wind, and batteries.

Duke's proposal is the first step in developing an updated plan to replace the 2024 Carbon Plan. The utilities commission is tasked with developing a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The state legislative majority abandoned the goal set in the bipartisan 2021 North Carolina law to lower carbon pollution from power plants in the state by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030. The plan filed by Duke Energy raises serious questions about whether the regulated monopoly is taking decisive enough action to comply with North Carolina law.

Interested parties have 180 days after the utility files with the N.C. Utilities Commission to file critiques of Duke's plan. As part of its review, the commission will hold a public comment period, public hearings, and an evidentiary hearing.

A coalition of public interest groups-Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Sierra Club, and Vote Solar, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center-are parties to the utilities commission proceedings. 

The clean energy advocates' initial reactions to Duke's proposed Carbon Plan follow.

Mikaela Curry, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Manager, said, "Duke's proposal to delay coal retirements is a disappointing and unsettling departure from the utility's previous commitments. The plants are still old and outdated, and increasingly unaffordable because of equipment, labor, and railway shortages. None of this has changed except Duke's hunger for more money on the backs of hard-working families and small businesses, all in the name of delivering electricity to power-hungry data centers owned by the richest companies in the history of the world. Duke Energy has an obligation to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy for North Carolinians, and as its CEO, Harry Sideris should ensure his company is prioritizing clean, proven technology instead of putting his thumb on the scale in favor of burning coal longer or overbuilding new gas plants to benefit his worldwide monopoly utility shareholders." 

David Neal, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said, "We're concerned that regulated monopoly Duke Energy is continuing to rely on expensive new gas power plants, leaving North Carolina families on the hook for escalating fuel costs and making it harder to reach the 2050 carbon neutrality requirement. Duke yet again appears to have fallen short of taking full advantage of energy efficiency, load flexibility, renewables, and storage, which remain the cheapest and fastest suite of options for meeting rising demand. As always, we will scrutinize Duke's filing and explore better options for North Carolinians that reduce carbon pollution as quickly and affordably as possible."

Jake Duncan, Vote Solar, said, "Today, Duke Energy published yet another plan that lets North Carolinians down. This is the third Carbon Plan that fails to meet the moment. Instead of investing enough in low-cost, fuel-free distributed clean energy resources like solar that strengthens communities and lower bills, Duke is doubling down on massive new methane gas plants and delaying coal retirements. The result will be higher costs for families, more pollution in local communities, and a worsening climate crisis."

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The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation's most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region's air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 130 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. selc.org.

Since 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has worked to promote responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at cleanenergy.org.

Vote Solar is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance state-level policies that make solar and clean energy solutions accessible to all. Since 2002, Vote Solar has worked to build a just and equitable energy future by leveraging deep policy expertise, strategic partnerships, and public engagement. In the face of powerful opposition, Vote Solar champions bold solutions that expand clean energy access, drive investment in frontline communities, and accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy. For more information, visit www.votesolar.org.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.