Duke’s Carolinas resource plan targets 18.5 GW new solar by 2041

Duke Energy has filed a 15-year plan with South Carolina regulators that lays out how it wants to add power supply across North Carolina and South Carolina through 2041. The plan calls for 18.5 gigawatts of new solar, 14 gigawatts of new gas-fired generation, 13 gigawatts of battery storage, and about 4.5 gigawatts of new nuclear power. Duke says both states are among the fastest-growing in the country, and it expects winter peak electricity demand to rise by more than 10 gigawatts, roughly 30 percent growth.

For homeowners in Duke's Carolinas territory, this is mostly a long-range planning document rather than something that changes your bills or service right away. It signals where your electricity will come from in coming years: more solar and battery storage on the grid, along with new natural gas plants and possibly longer-running nuclear reactors, since Duke is working to extend some of its existing nuclear plants to operate up to 80 years. The company also says it will keep pushing "grid edge" programs — things like energy efficiency, demand response, and programs that shift or reduce household electricity use at peak times — as tools to manage growing demand.

South Carolina's Public Service Commission is expected to hold a hearing on the plan in April, with a decision by June. Homeowners with rooftop solar, battery storage, or interest in efficiency programs may see more detail on how these fit into Duke's future plans once that review process plays out.