Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is planning to construct the 207-MW Ledyard Windpower project in Kossuth County, Iowa, the company’s first renewable energy project in the state. Verizon has entered a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 180 MW of wind energy generated by Ledyard Windpower to support the company’s sustainability goals. “We’re excited to…
Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions’ 182-MW Texas wind project reaches commercial operation
Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions commenced commercial operation of its 182-MW Maryneal Windpower project in Nolan County, Texas. In 2019, cellular service Sprint signed a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 173.3 MW of the wind generated by the project, which will reduce parent company T-Mobile’s carbon production by 9%. “Projects like Maryneal Windpower play…
Walmart wins a Duke Energy 2019 Power Partner award
A half-dozen organizations have been chosen to receive Duke Energy‘s long-standing Power Partner award for 2019. Among them is Walmart, recognized for its commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. The Power Partner award program, which began in 1992, honors businesses and other organizations that achieve notable results in categories including solutions innovation, community excellence, economic…
Duke Energy announces 350-MW Frontier Windpower II in Oklahoma
Duke Energy Renewables announced plans for the largest wind power project in its fleet – the 350-MW Frontier Windpower II project in Kay County, Oklahoma. The project is an expansion of Frontier Windpower, which has been operational since 2016. Once complete, Frontier I and II will generate a total of 550 MW of wind energy…
North Carolina manufacturer commits to 100% renewable electricity
Global label manufacturer, PM Raflatac, recently announced that its factory in Mills River is sourcing all of its electricity from renewable sources. The company says it is the first manufacturing facility in North Carolina to go with 100% clean energy, which is sourced through Charlotte-based Duke Energy’s NC Renewable Energy Program. “Through our REC program,…
Duke Energy to install NRG Systems’ Bat Deterrent System at its wind farms
Texas leads the nation in wind energy generation with thousands of wind turbines throughout the state. This is a boon for clean energy generation but not for the state’s large population of bats, which are often drawn to the spinning turbines. To help discourage them from approaching, Duke Energy Renewables is working with NRG Systems,…
Duke Energy to sell minority interest in renewables portfolio to John Hancock
Duke Energy announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell a minority interest in a portion of its commercial renewable energy portfolio owned and operated by its affiliate, Duke Energy Renewables, to the John Hancock Infrastructure Fund (JHIF) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (collectively, “John Hancock”), a division of Manulife Financial…
Duke Energy awarded for operational excellence, including ‘Wind Technician Team of the Year’
Duke Energy Renewable Services, an operations and maintenance organization for wind and solar asset owners across the U.S., has won recognition for its high standard of operational excellence in 2018. Duke Energy Renewable Services’ technicians received the 2018 Wind Technician Team of the Year Award at the 10th Annual Wind Operations forum in Dallas this…
Duke Energy named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes
Duke Energy has been named to Forbes magazine’s 2018 list of America’s Best Employers. Out of 500 companies ranked, Duke Energy moved up 38 spots to #106 and is the highest-ranking Charlotte-based employer. Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves about 7.5 million…
Duke Energy’s renewable portfolio grew almost 20% in 2017
Duke Energy‘s renewable energy capacity grew by almost 20% in 2017, according to the company’s newly posted Sustainability Report. One of the company’s sustainability goals is to own, or have under contract, 8,000 MW of wind, solar, and biomass capacity by 2020. Over the past year, the company has made strong progress toward that goal, growing…
Duke Energy to install avian protection program at Wyoming wind farm
Duke Energy Renewables announced that it has ordered 24 IdentiFlight units to be installed at its Top of the World wind-power project in Wyoming as part of its comprehensive avian protection program. The system from IdentiFlight International blends artificial intelligence with high-precision optical technology to detect eagles and prevent them from colliding with rotating wind turbine blades. Duke Energy…
Younicos upgrades battery storage at Duke Energy’s Notrees wind farm in Texas
Younicos has completed the installation and commissioning of an upgraded 36-MW, battery-based energy storage system at the site of Duke Energy’s 153-MW Notrees Windpower Project in West Texas. The company replaced previously deployed lead-acid technology with advanced Samsung SDI lithium-ion batteries. The Notrees system has been in operation since 2012, actively participating in Texas grid…
Duke Energy plans $3 billion improvements to strengthen South Carolina’s energy grid
Duke Energy is investing $3 billion over roughly the next 10 years in South Carolina to strengthen the energy grid and provide a major boost to the state’s economy for years to come. The program – Power/Forward Carolinas – will consist of upgrades that will harden the system against storms and outages, further protect it against cyberattacks and physical…
Duke Energy issues request for wind energy in the Carolinas
As part of building a smarter energy future and generating cleaner energy for its customers, Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for up to 500 MW of wind capacity that would be delivered to its transmission system. Results from the RFP could bring clean wind energy to the Carolinas and help…
Duke Energy increases growth & share value
Duke Energy declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.890 per share, an increase of $0.035 per share, or 4.1%. The dividend is payable on September 18, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business August 18, 2017. “This announcement demonstrates confidence in our strategy that produces real results for our customers and balanced growth in…
Duke Energy hosts dedication ceremony for 200-MW Oklahoma wind project
More than 100 supporters attended a recent dedication ceremony for Duke Energy Renewables’ Frontier Windpower Project, a 200-MW facility near Blackwell, Oklahoma. “Wind energy is progressive and beneficial to the economy of Oklahoma,” said State Rep. John Pfeiffer, who was the keynote speaker at the event. “I’m grateful to companies like Duke Energy Renewables that are unlocking…
Duke Energy sets goal to reduce carbon emissions 40% by 2030
A modernized generating fleet and additional investments of $11 billion in cleaner energy are spurring Duke Energy to establish an aggressive carbon dioxide reduction goal: 40% from 2005 levels by 2030. The goals are spelled out in the company’s 2016 Sustainability Report, which is accessible here. “As technology and customers’ expectations evolve, Duke Energy is responding…
Duke Energy Foundation supports bat conservation with $50,000 grant
The effort to save North America’s imperiled bats has received a boost. Duke Energy Foundation recently announced that it is awarding $50,000 to support efforts by Bat Conservation International (BCI) to help with the recovery of the continent’s threatened and endangered bat species. The grant will supply critical funding to address major threats to bats including…
Duke Energy sets 10-year initiative to strengthen North Carolina’s energy grid
Duke Energy announced “Power/Forward Carolinas,” a $13 billion, 10-year project to modernize the state’s electric system. The upgrades will harden the system against storms and outages, and make it safer and more resilient against cyber-attacks and physical threats. The changes will also help expand renewable energy in the region, generate local jobs, and stimulate economic growth.…
Duke Energy’s 200-MW Oklahoma wind project now operational
Duke Energy Renewables has officially completed its large-scale wind power plant in Oklahoma, the 200-MW Frontier Wind-power Project. The wind facility, located in Kay County, east of Blackwell, increases Duke Energy’ U.S. wind capacity to 2,300 MW. “We had several ‘firsts’ with the Frontier project,” said Rob Caldwell, President, Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy…