North Carolina Utilities Commission holds public hearing to review Duke Energy’s plans for second new gas plant in northern Person County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2025
CONTACT
Juhi Modi, North Carolina Field Coordinator, (919) 307-7925, juhi@appvoices.org
On Monday, May 5, the North Carolina Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing to gather feedback on Duke Energy’s plans to build a second new methane gas power plant near its existing coal plant on Hyco Lake in Person County.
WHEN: Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Person County Courthouse, Superior Courtroom, 105 South Main Street, Roxboro, NC 27573
Last December, the NCUC approved Duke Energy’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the first of the two proposed gas plants. The commission did not require Duke to consider alternative options for power generation at the site.
Duke’s application for a second gas plant is part of a plan to replace generation from retiring coal plants but creates a problem for the utility to meet the net-zero carbon reduction goal in 2050, which was established in state law HB 951. Duke Energy’s modeling shows a diminishing need for methane gas as the adoption of energy efficiency, solar, battery storage and wind increases.
Duke’s larger plans for building nearly 9 gigawatts of new methane gas power generation would increase everyday customers’ electric bills, as the utility would pass on the cost of building expensive new infrastructure and purchasing the fuel to ratepayers. Duke Energy has estimated that its proposed gas expansion along with proposed small modular nuclear reactors would increase Duke Energy Progress customers’ rates by 39% and Duke Energy Carolinas’ rates by 73% over the next 15 years.
