Grid Overview

Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, dominates NC power. In 2026, Duke filed for a 15% rate hike (2 years, $8.3B infrastructure) — data centers projected to drive 80% of load growth. Gov. Stein and AG Jackson are opposing. NCUC decision expected late 2026. State operates under SERC Reliability Corporation.

Generation Mix (2024)

35%
31%
12%
12%
10%
Natural Gas (35%)
Nuclear (31%)
Coal (12%)
Solar (12%)
Other (10%)
☀️ Solar Surge: North Carolina ranks #2 nationally for utility-scale solar capacity despite limited state mandates, driven by favorable policies, Duke Energy procurement, and competitive costs. The state added more solar than any other in the Southeast.

Data Center Market

North Carolina's data center market has grown rapidly, driven by the Research Triangle's tech ecosystem, Charlotte's financial sector, and Duke Energy's willingness to work with large customers.

Key Markets

  • Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), Tech hub with Apple, Google, Meta, IBM presence
  • Charlotte Metro, Financial sector data centers, growing hyperscale interest
  • Lenoir/Catawba County, Meta/Facebook major campus
  • Forest City/Rutherford County, Apple's East Coast data center

Major Players

  • Apple, Maiden, NC facility (one of Apple's largest)
  • Meta/Facebook, Forest City campus
  • Google, Lenoir facility, growing presence
  • Microsoft, Charlotte area investments
  • AWS, Multiple North Carolina facilities
⚠️ Duke Energy Tension: Duke is tracking 37 GW of potential data center demand in the Carolinas — but has only contracted 1.5 GW with set connection dates. A proposed 15% rate hike tied to DC infrastructure costs has put the utility at odds with state leadership and ratepayer advocates. The NC Energy Policy Task Force has recommended large-load tariffs to make data centers pay their own way.

Offshore Wind

North Carolina is positioning itself as an offshore wind hub, with significant lease areas off the coast:

  • Kitty Hawk Offshore, Avangrid project, up to 2.5 GW potential
  • Carolina Long Bay, Additional lease areas for future development
  • 2.8 GW target, State's offshore wind goal by 2030
  • Port infrastructure, Morehead City and Wilmington upgrades planned

However, offshore wind in NC faces opposition from coastal communities and fishing interests, plus the broader industry headwinds affecting all US offshore projects.

Key Facilities

  • Brunswick Nuclear, 1,870 MW, two units near Wilmington
  • McGuire Nuclear, 2,258 MW, two units near Charlotte
  • Shearon Harris Nuclear, 900 MW, one unit near Raleigh
  • Roxboro Plant, Coal, retirement planned
  • Multiple solar farms, Distributed across eastern NC

Issues to Watch

  • Duke Energy Carbon Plan, Utility's path to net-zero by 2050, contentious proceedings
  • Coal Ash Cleanup, Ongoing remediation from Dan River spill legacy
  • Data Center Load Growth, Strain on grid planning, rate impact debates
  • Offshore Wind Progress, Permitting, supply chain, community acceptance
  • Nuclear Relicensing, Extending life of Brunswick, McGuire, Harris plants
  • Grid Resilience, Substation attacks in 2022 highlighted vulnerabilities