North Carolina Utilities Commission public hearing to review Duke Energy’s plans for new gas plant in northern Person County

PRESS ADVISORY
June 12, 2024

CONTACT
Juhi Modi, North Carolina Field Coordinator, (828) 616-5236, juhi@appvoices.org
Hope Taylor, MSPH, Executive Director, Clean Water for NC, (919) 401-9600, hope@cwfnc.org

This Thursday, the North Carolina Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing to gather feedback on Duke Energy’s plans to build the first of two new methane gas power plants near its existing coal plant on Hyco Lake in Person County.

WHEN: Thursday, June 13, at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Person County Courthouse, Superior Courtroom
105 South Main Street, Roxboro, NC 27573

This proposed gas plant would raise Duke customers’ electric bills if approved and built. Duke Energy passes on the fuel price of methane gas and the cost of building new generating equipment, including gas plants, to customers. A recent study shows that increases in methane gas prices since 2017 account for 67% of rate increases in Duke Energy Carolinas territory and 46% for Duke Energy Progress territory.

Since the proposed site for the gas plant does not have sufficient access to methane gas, the project would require the development of a new pipeline called the T-15 Reliability Project, proposed by Dominion Energy. This 45-mile pipeline is proposed to run near Woodland Elementary School, which is a cause for concern given that pipeline explosions and fires occur without warning and can cause serious injuries, millions of dollars in damages and death. Earlier this year, a methane gas pipeline exploded in Oklahoma, producing over 500-foot tall flames.

Appalachian Voices is a leading nonprofit advocate for a healthy environment and just economy in the Appalachian region, and a driving force in America’s shift from fossil fuels to a clean energy future.

Clean Water for North Carolina is a 40 year old science-based Environmental Justice organization, working for safe water and empowered communities. Learn more at cwfnc.org