The North Carolina Utilities Commission has declined Duke Energy’s proposal to construct a 250 MW gas-fired power plant, estimated to cost $500 million. This facility was intended to support an Amazon complex of 21 buildings near Charlotte. The Commission’s decision was influenced by concerns about consumer protection and the need for Duke Energy to demonstrate how it would shield consumers from construction costs, particularly in light of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge introduced under President Trump.
This rejection comes during a period of significant growth in gas-fired generation in the U.S., largely driven by the construction of data centers for artificial intelligence systems. According to Global Energy Monitor, the U.S. gas generation capacity has increased from 252 GW to 378 GW—a 50% rise since January. Notably, a substantial portion of this new capacity is tied to data center developments.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects a steady increase in dry natural gas production over the next few years, with production anticipated to rise from 107.6 billion cubic feet per day in 2025 to nearly 116 billion by 2027. Domestic consumption is also expected to grow, reflecting the ongoing reliance on natural gas in the energy mix.
