Utility giant faces backlash after reneging promise to phase out coal: 'A risk to all of us'
Story by Jon Turi • 1d
Duke Energy, one of Indiana's largest electricity suppliers, has balked on initial plans to go coal-free by 2035, drawing ire from consumer watchdog groups.
What's happening?
According to a report by IndyStar, the utility's new plan aims to scale back on renewable energy developments while replacing much of its coal generation with either gas-fired or co-fired (both gas and coal) processes.
In Duke's original 2021 plan, it committed to going coal-free by 2035. This revision extends that deadline to 2038, with its Gibson location being the only plant to continue using coal exclusively after 2032.
In addition, instead of following through with its plans to install 1,500 megawatts of solar by 2030, the utility will add just 500 megawatts, with 400 megawatts of battery storage.
"It wouldn't be responsible for us to try to turn over our entire coal fleet by 2032, and so that's why you start to see some of the conversion, the modification to balance out the retirements," Nate Gagnon, Duke's managing director for Midwest resource planning, said in the piece.
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