North Carolina Regulators Reject Duke Energy's $500M Gas Plant Over Ratepayer Cost Concerns

North Carolina's Utilities Commission rejected Duke Energy's proposed $500 million, 250-megawatt natural gas plant, citing insufficient protections for consumers against construction costs. The commission invoked President Donald Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge, requiring Duke to demonstrate cost-recovery mechanisms before reapplying. The plant was intended to power a 21-building Amazon facility near Charlotte. The decision reflects growing pressure on utilities as data center-driven energy demand surges. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects dry gas production will reach 111.7 bcfd in 2026 and 115.9 bcfd in 2027, up from 107.6 bcfd this year. LNG exports are forecast to rise from 15.1 bcfd to 17.4 bcfd in 2026. The U.S. is constructing roughly twice as much gas-fired capacity as China, with over $647 billion in capital costs tied to projects at all development stages, according to Global Energy Monitor.