North Carolina House Revives Construction Fees, Abandons Carbon Reductions for Duke Energy

RALEIGH, NC — The North Carolina House of Representatives advanced Senate Bill 266, the latest legislative measure to allow Duke Energy to charge customers construction fees for future power plants and remove carbon reduction goals.  

The bill would allow Duke Energy to charge customers in advance for projects that are not yet online; a plan that was implemented in South Carolina by Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper utility companies and had disastrous consequences for utility customers who are still paying for a $9 billion nuclear power plant project that was never completed. The bill also removes interim carbon emission reduction goals established in 2022. 

Drew Ball, southeastern campaigns director for the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), has the following reaction:  

“This bill tramples on years of good faith efforts to reduce pollution and keep costs down for Duke Energy customers. We already know how this scheme played out in South Carolina. Duke Energy is turning a blind eye to the problems with this bill and are building out their energy plans on the backs of working families.”  

The bill passed Tuesday, 75–36. It will go back to the Senate for approval.  

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).