Replace Coal in North Carolina
We can replace coal with clean energy right now in North Carolina and save customers billions. Solar is already significantly cheaper than coal. However, Duke continues operating dirty, expensive, and unreliable coal plants in North Carolina that have cost customers nearly $3 billion over the past four years. Duke Energy is taking food out of customers' fridges to pad the profits of its investors.
Tell Duke Energy to close its coal plants and replace them with renewables
Coal plants are the most expensive way to produce energy in North Carolina. And none of Duke Energy’s six aging coal plants are needed to meet the state’s long-term energy needs. Yet Duke Energy continues to operate all of its old, dirty coal plants—wasting billions of dollars and making customers pay for them. Black and low-income communities have been disproportionately affected by coal pollution.
North Carolina Beyond Coal is accelerating the transition to clean energy. We aim to close all coal plants in the state by 2030 and replace them with renewable energy. We also support policies that provide a just transition for frontline communities. We can repower North Carolina with clean jobs and a more just and sustainable economy that works for everyone.
Offshore Wind
North Carolina has the best offshore wind resources of any state on the Atlantic Coast—enough to meet more than 100 percent of our current electricity demand. The Department of Energy estimates that North Carolina could install 10 GW of offshore wind over the next twenty years, which would be enough to power two million North Carolina homes. Further, the offshore wind industry stands to create 45,000 jobs in construction, and 9,100 jobs in permanent maintenance over the next 20 years, delivering $22 billion in total economic benefit to our state.
Solar
North Carolina is currently ranked second in the nation for installed solar capacity. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), there are currently more than 137 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in North Carolina, employing 1,400 people. Solar power is already cheaper than coal. All of the coal plants in North Carolina could be replaced with solar and battery storage today—and still reliably meet energy needs while saving customers billions.