CHARLOTTE – Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a non-regulated commercial brand of the publicly-traded utility Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), began the commercial operation of two solar power facilities in North Carolina recently.

The company is now operating power plants in Cleveland County and Cabarrus County, and the power from the plants can power about 15,000 homes each year, according to a statement from the company shared with WRAL TechWire this week.

North Carolina was ranked third in the nation for solar power in a November 2021 report.

Report: North Carolina ranks No. 3 in solar, emerging as renewable energy leader

NC’s solar future

Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 951 into law in October 2021, which an economist at RTI International called “an important start on our mitigation efforts” in a November column published on WRAL TechWire.

Duke Energy is also building solar plants in Catawba County and Surry County, WRAL TechWire has reported.  Duke Energy told WRAL TechWire that the company maintains more than 4,100 megawatts of solar power on its North Carolina energy grid, which it said could power about 800,000 homes and businesses “at peak output.”

“Solar power is a major focus for Duke Energy as we target 70% carbon reduction by 2030 in North Carolina and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 under HB951,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, in a statement. “We expect solar to play a leading role in our clean energy future.”

The company operates more than 40 facilities in North Carolina, according to its statement.

Duke Energy filed an agreement in November 2021 with the the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) that the company said would “align solar adopter compensation to utility system benefits and create long-term stability for the residential solar industry in North Carolina,” WRAL TechWire reported.

That November filing will enable new net metering tariffs to go into effect for customers who submit applications on or after Jan. 1, 2023, the utility told WRAL TechWire, and also includes varied retail rates based on peak demand and time of day.

Duke Energy reaches agreement with solar power organizations on rooftop solar, proposes to NCUC