Edward Smith, edward.smith@sierraclub.org
Columbia, SC – Duke Energy Carolinas & Progress saw a slight improvement in the Sierra Club's "Dirty Truth" report card this year, but its score could regress if the utility follows through on its short-sighted plans to add new gas-burning power plants and burn more coal.
Duke Energy Carolinas & Progress earned 0% (F) in the inaugural Dirty Truth report in 2021. Its score has improved incrementally to 28% (D) in 2024.
The Sierra Club's fourth annual Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges was released nationwide on Oct. 9th. Details for South Carolina have been delayed out of respect for our staff and communities dealing with the devastation caused by climate-fueled Hurricane Helene. As our colleagues and their neighbors dig out and rebuild, we're just now distributing the report to emphasize the important role Duke Energy must accept in fighting climate-driven disasters.
Utility scores are determined based on their plans in three areas: 1) commitments to retire coal by 2030, 2) plans to build gas through 2035, and 3) plans to build or purchase clean energy by 2035. The score is on a scale of 0 to 100, with a utility earning points by committing to retire coal and adding clean energy and losing points by adding new gas. In an interactive webpage, users can see their utility’s score and what progress – if any – the utility has made toward transitioning to cleaner, more affordable energy since the first report card.
“Duke is on a better path than it was previously, however its ‘all-of-the-above’ energy plan does not match the urgent need to move from coal and gas to clean energy, and we need the utility to do better,” Montravias King, Chapter Director, Sierra Club South Carolina. “Hurricane Helene has made evident what the world already knows, we must double down on clean energy, not fossil fuels, in order to avert the worst impacts of our changing climate.”
The South Carolina Public Service Commission approved Duke Energy’s long-range energy plan two weeks ago, which includes a large investment in new gas-burning power plants. The approved plan directs Duke to work with stakeholders to consider improvements recommended by several environmental groups that, if implemented, could improve grid reliability, expand solar and battery storage opportunities, and reduce reliance on risky and dirty fossil fuels. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and the primary component of “natural gas,” which directly escapes into the atmosphere when extracted through fracking and transported to power plants.
Meanwhile, the share of residential electricity powered by fossil fuels could go up if Duke sells clean energy contracts from its existing nuclear operations to data center owners to meet their own clean energy goals. The Sierra Club recently released a framework for how data centers, utilities, and various stakeholders can address increased demand with clean energy. And Duke knows clean energy works: Its solar-based microgrid in Hot Springs, N.C. was brought back online swiftly after Helene compared to other impacted communities. Duke’s incremental improvement in the Dirty Truth scorecard could be wiped away by increasing electric demand from data centers, similar to what’s happening in Virginia.
“The explosive demand for electricity from data centers and advanced manufacturing means that we need safeguards for South Carolina utility customers and our environment now, because what’s happening in Virginia should be a warning, not a model, for our state,” said Paul Black, Carolinas Beyond Coal Senior Campaign Organizer. “We need data center owners, especially those with climate goals, to use their influence to clean the electric grid for everyone, not just sign agreements with Duke for existing nuclear power while the residential customer share of the electric pie gets dirtier and dirtier.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.