In 2025, Duke Energy withdrew three proposed programs that it filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The programs were a solar and storage program to benefit residents who rely on electricity for medical devices, a community solar program, and a program that would allow residential and small commercial entities to offset usage with renewable energy credits (RECs). In addition to the withdrawals, Duke also started the process to allow RECs from existing nuclear facilities, a move that will primarily benefit industrial facilities. All these actions beg the question: What is going on with Duke Energy lately?
One thing to note here is that the programs that were withdrawn would have benefited the residential sector and included carve-outs for low-income residential households. Duke moves forward with programs for the industrial sector, but programs for residents are withdrawn. Something is not right here. Many industrial customers are shareholders, and industrial facilities comprise a bigger share of utility revenue. The interest of the shareholders and industry is evident. We see you, Duke Energy. However, climate can’t wait, and energy affordability issues are real and need to be addressed.
The Withdrawal
The programs that were withdrawn are the PowerPair Medical Device pilot, Clean Energy Connection (community solar), and Clean Energy Impact (CEI, REC program). All of these programs were meant to benefit the residential and commercial sectors. Clean Energy Connection and Clean Energy Impact, as filed, were not great programs. We, as part of a group of stakeholders, pushed back and made suggestions to improve these programs. One of the alternatives filed in comments for the Clean Energy Connection program was a program where large energy users would fund renewable energy projects for low-income communities and, in turn, receive the RECs. Additionally, we had a lot of concerns about the CEI program, mostly dealing with the fact that the program would not result in additional renewable energy on the grid despite likely marketing that enrolling customers would be “going green.” However, Duke’s existing Go Renewable program will continue to be available, and it is Green-e certified, meaning participating drives new renewables to be built, and we will continue to work with Duke Energy and other stakeholders on Go Renewable modifications.
So, what is going on with Duke Energy? Was it too hard to make these residential programs, which could have made a real difference in people’s lives, better? Was it not worth it to Duke since the programs did not benefit investors? These programs are part of what should be implemented as part of House Bill 951. It’s the law! Is Duke picking and choosing which legislative directives to complete?
Let’s look at the track record for House Bill 951:
- House Bill 951 states: “The Utilities Commission shall take all reasonable steps to achieve a seventy percent (70%) reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in the State from electric generating facilities owned or operated by electric public utilities from 2005 levels by the year 2030.” — The NC legislature removed this directive in 2025. Take a look at their donor list.
- House Bill 951 states: “establish a rider for a voluntary program that will allow industrial, commercial, and residential customers who elect to purchase from the electric public utility renewable energy or renewable energy credits.”
- Industrial program – Green Source Advantage Choice – approved in 2024
- Commercial/residential – Clean Energy Impact – withdrawn in 2025
- Commercial/residential – Clean Energy Connection – withdrawn in 2025
- The PowerPair Program (solar plus storage pilot program) is a result of a program, Smart Saver Solar, that was proposed and not approved through House Bill 951. The PowerPair program order states, “Duke stated that within 12 months after implementation of the Pilot it plans to recommend modified or additional cohorts, and that such modified cohorts might include income-qualified customers, customers dependent on medical devices, or a comparable program for non-residential customers or other targeted participants.”
- Twelve months later, in July 2025, Duke Energy stated they were “not proposing an additional cohort of income-qualified or medical device customers (“Cohort C”) for approval”.
- While separate, in September 2025, Duke Energy filed a non-residential PowerPair program, which SACE supports.
Speaking of PowerPair, the pilot is full in Duke Energy Progress and almost full in Duke Energy Carolinas. This is a residential program. Will Duke Energy file for a full program? After looking at the CPIRP, it does not indicate continuation of the program. Will another residential program bite the dust? Whether a new program is proposed or not, there will likely be a chunk of time in which no solar and storage program is available to residential customers.
The Greenwashing
While all of this is happening, in October 2025, Duke Energy filed “registration statement” filings for nuclear plants to qualify them to produce RECs and register with NC-RETS. We acknowledge this is legal because the definition of “clean” now includes nuclear, but it must be said that nuclear energy is not renewable. How does it look for a non-renewable to get a renewable energy credit? This, my friends, is called greenwashing. Why is Duke trying to put a lot of cheap RECs on the market? To benefit their investors and industrial friends who want to claim their products are produced with renewable energy, without giving consumers any more information?
This, unfortunately, is common around the country. Additionally, many states now include nuclear as a clean energy source as part of their renewable portfolio standard and have the ability for nuclear RECs as well.
Nuclear energy is not renewable!
What’s Next?
What is next for Duke Energy? Building a lot of gas plants, apparently. Energy affordability is real, and these withdrawn programs were meant to help relieve some of the pressure of high bills, reduce carbon emissions, and provide resiliency. Building gas plants increases fuel costs, increases bills, and pollutes the environment. Solar requires no fuel, does not increase fuel cost, and does not emit carbon emissions. The Environmental Defense Fund reported in 2024 that gas plants will increase bills. This is not a new fact. Let’s not ignore this in favor of Duke’s investors and industry.
It is evident that Duke Energy is favoring industry interests with their programs and interest in nuclear RECs. We will continue to call Duke Energy out and fight for all interests. Let’s work together to create great programs for everyone.
