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NC — Power Infrastructure Updated January 2026

North Carolina

SERC/PJM Natural Gas Nuclear Solar Wind Storage Data Center PPAs Queue Bottlenecks Transmission Constraints

Overview

North Carolina’s power infrastructure is being reshaped by Duke Energy’s 2024 Carbon Plan, which targets 7 GW of renewables and 3.6 GW of gas by 2031 to meet load growth and reliability needs.[1] The state is also enabling large-customer clean energy programs for tech companies including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, while upgrading transmission to relieve congestion and unlock 1.6 GW of solar and storage waiting to interconnect.[3][5] Queue bottlenecks and transmission capacity limits remain key challenges in high-growth areas.

Generation Projects

Natural Gas

Duke Energy’s 2024 Carbon Plan includes 900 MW of combustion turbines by 2030 and 2,720 MW of combined cycle gas by 2031 to meet reliability and load growth in the least-cost plan.[1]

Nuclear

The plan calls for 600 MW of advanced nuclear: 300 MW by 2034 and another 300 MW by 2035.[1]

Solar

Duke is directed to conduct competitive solar procurements in 2025-2026, targeting 3,460 MW of new controllable solar in service by 2031.[1]

Wind

The plan targets 1,200 MW of onshore wind, with at least 300 MW by 2031 and the full capacity by 2033.[1] Duke is also authorized to issue a request for information for up to 2,400 MW of offshore wind with a 2035 in-service target.[1]

Transmission and Grid

DOE’s GRIP round-two award funds the North Carolina Innovative Transmission Rebuild, which will reconstruct the Lee-Milburnie 230 kV line in Wake, Johnston, and Wayne counties.[3] The project will raise line capacity, cut outage duration for about 14,000 customers, and enable 1,600 MW of solar plus 260 MW of storage to interconnect in the region.[3]

Battery Storage

The Carbon Plan includes 1,100 MW of battery storage by 2031: 475 MW standalone and at least 625 MW paired with solar.[1] Duke also plans 1,834 MW of pumped storage at Bad Creek in South Carolina as part of the Carolinas portfolio, which helps balance the North Carolina grid.[1]

Data Center Power Agreements

Duke’s Green Source Advantage Choice program, approved in 2024, allows large customers to procure renewable energy from new projects on Duke’s grid, with up to 5,000 MW of program capacity and optional storage pairing.[4] Duke and large customers including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Nucor announced work on Clean Transition and Accelerating Clean Energy tariffs to support new clean generation and large-load needs in the Carolinas.[5] Amazon’s ENGIE offtake agreements include projects in North Carolina as part of a multi-state renewable portfolio tied to data center demand.[6]

Interconnection Queue

NCSEA mapped substation-level queued capacity using Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, and Dominion North Carolina Power interconnection queue data, showing sizable capacity waiting to connect across the state.[7] Duke’s large-load integration process groups big customers into tranches with cluster-style studies, and the company warns that limited transmission capacity in high-growth areas can extend timelines.[8]

What to Watch

  • Duke’s 2025-2026 competitive solar procurement results and project locations
  • Advanced nuclear vendor selection and siting for the 600 MW target
  • Offshore wind RFI responses and 2035 in-service feasibility
  • Lee-Milburnie transmission rebuild completion and impact on interconnection queue

Sources

[1] Diana DiGangi, “North Carolina OKs Duke Energy plan to add 3.6 GW gas-fired capacity, 7 GW renewables,” Utility Dive, 2024-11-05, https://www.utilitydive.com/news/north-carolina-commission-accepts-duke-energys-carbon-plan/732010/ (accessed 2026-01-08).

[2] North Carolina Utilities Commission, “NCUC: Carbon Plan,” order summary page (references Nov. 1, 2024 CPIRP order), 2024-11-01, https://www.ncuc.gov/Consumer/carbonplan.html (accessed 2026-01-08).

[3] U.S. Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office, “North Carolina SEO GRIP 2 40103b Fact Sheet: Enabling Eastern North Carolina’s Future Through Advanced Reconductoring,” 2024-10-04, https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/NorthCarolinaSEO_GRIP%202_40103b_Fact_Sheet.pdf (accessed 2026-01-08).

[4] Duke Energy, “Duke Energy expands North Carolina program that helps businesses become more renewable and carbon-free,” 2024-10-22, https://investors.duke-energy.com/news/news-details/2024/Duke-Energy-expands-North-Carolina-program-that-helps-businesses-become-more-renewable-and-carbon-free/default.aspx (accessed 2026-01-08).

[5] Ethan Howland, “Duke to offer expanded suite of clean energy options to Amazon, Google, other large customers,” Utility Dive, 2024-05-30, https://www.utilitydive.com/news/duke-clean-energy-tariff-amazon-google-microsoft-nucor/717483/ (accessed 2026-01-08).

[6] ENGIE North America, “ENGIE announces 650 MW of renewable energy offtake contracts with Amazon,” 2020-12-10, https://www.engie-na.com/amazon/ (accessed 2026-01-08).

[7] NC Sustainable Energy Association, “NCSEA Maps Current Capacity Awaiting Interconnection at Substations Across the State,” datePublished 2016-03-01, dateModified 2024-09-13, https://www.energync.org/blog/ncsea-maps-current-capacity-awaiting-interconnection-substations-across-state/ (accessed 2026-01-08).

[8] Weston Adams, III; Daniel R. Simon; Robert Josey, “Developments on How Duke Energy Integrates Data Centers and Other New Large Load Customers in North Carolina,” Nelson Mullins (Megawatt Minute blog), 2025-07-24 (date referenced in post), https://www.nelsonmullins.com/insights/blogs/megawatt-minute-blog/power-generation/developments-on-how-duke-energy-integrates-data-centers-and-other-new-large-load-customers-in-north-carolina (accessed 2026-01-08).