Duke Energy Clean Program Signs 177 MW in North Carolina

When Duke Energy listened to what businesses really wanted from clean energy programs, the response was overwhelming.

The company's new Green Source Advantage Express program has already exceeded its enrollment targets in North Carolina, with major companies subscribing to 177.3 megawatts of renewable energy capacity. That's enough clean power to match the electricity needs of thousands of homes and businesses.

The program works like a renewable energy subscription service. Large businesses can now tap into clean energy from new solar and wind facilities on Duke Energy's grid without having to build or manage their own power plants. It's designed to be simpler and more flexible than previous options, addressing the real-world challenges companies face when trying to meet sustainability commitments.

Tech giant Cisco, trucking manufacturer Daimler Truck North America, and cold storage leader United States Cold Storage are among the first to join. These companies operate major facilities in North Carolina and needed reliable ways to power their operations with renewable energy while staying focused on their core business.

The program splits capacity across Duke Energy's two service territories, with 87.3 MW in the Carolinas region and 90 MW in the Progress territory. The company is also reserving 10% of additional capacity each year specifically for new businesses, ensuring smaller players get a chance to participate.

The Ripple Effect

Here's what makes this story bigger than just corporate sustainability wins. Every subscription generates revenue from clean energy credits that benefits all Duke Energy customers, whether they participate in the program or not. That means everyday ratepayers see advantages even if they're not enrolling themselves.

The program is also pushing actual new renewable energy facilities onto the grid. These aren't just paper credits or theoretical offsets. Companies are helping fund real solar panels and wind turbines that add clean power to North Carolina's energy mix.

Duke Energy paired the launch with a new tracking tool built with partner Cleartrace, giving participating companies verified data on their carbon reductions. That transparency helps businesses report accurate emissions data to investors and stakeholders who increasingly demand proof of climate action.

To qualify, businesses need at least 1 megawatt of peak demand at one location or 5 MW combined across multiple sites. That threshold keeps the program focused on large energy users who can make the biggest immediate impact.

Companies like US Cold Storage are combining the program with their own on-site solar installations, showing how utility programs and direct investment can work together toward ambitious goals like 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

North Carolina businesses now have a practical path to clean energy that doesn't require becoming power experts themselves.