On September 1, Duke Energy, the country’s largest electric utility, filed new Integrated Resource Plans for both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress.
The plans, filed with state regulators, show that the company is still committed to risky coal and gas rather than to maximizing safe, cheap renewable energy resources that would protect our environment and shield customers from the volatile fossil fuels market.
The plans are meant to guide Duke in identifying resources to meet the energy needs of its customers over the next 15 years. Together, the current plans assume the continued reliance on most of Duke’s existing coal boilers and the construction of thousands of megawatts of new gas-fired generation.
Both coal and natural gas perpetuate climate disruption from greenhouse emissions and further lock our communities into long-term reliance on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the 2,294 MW of solar energy currently installed in North Carolina ranks the state third in the country for installed solar capacity.
Combining our abundant, low-cost solar resources with wind and energy efficiency programs would significantly reduce the fuel costs that Duke passes on to families and businesses and would allow Duke to phase out old, dirty coal-fired power plants—and stop its rush to build risky new gas plants.
In response to the filing, David Rogers, campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in North Carolina released the following statement:
“North Carolinians have been clear they want a timely transition from dirty, toxic coal to clean energy. Any plan that continues to rely on burning coal and that makes customers foot the bill for risky natural gas infrastructure is not the solution—especially when the cost of clean energy resources like solar and wind are plummeting, and energy efficiency remains the cleanest, cheapest resource available.
“Duke Energy is capable of so much more, so we hope that with input from stakeholders and the public in this process, Duke will amend its plan to capture the full potential of energy efficiency, and wind and solar power as cost-saving, emission-free, alternative resources.”
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