Project Overview
In two years time, five Duke Energy natural gas-fired power plants began serving North Carolina customers. With the retirement of three coal-fired plants, the company saw its fleet generation capacity diminish by 771 megawatts (MW). However, through its modernization projects, Duke Energy added 2,760 MW – more than tripling its original capacity while significantly reducing emissions.
Still under way is the Sutton Plant near Wilmington, N.C. The 625-MW natural gas combined cycle facility is scheduled to come online by the end of 2013.
- Capacity: 620 MW
- Location: Rowan County, N.C.
- Commercial Operation: 2011
- Retired Units: Units 3 and 4 at Buck Steam Station were retired in 2011 and Units 5 and 6 were retired in April 2013.
Dan River Combined Cycle Plant
- Capacity: 620 MW
- Location: Rockingham County, N.C.
- Commercial Operation: Dec. 10, 2012
- Retired Units: Three older, less efficient coal units at the adjacent Dan River Steam Station were retired in 2012.
- Capacity: 920 MW
- Location: Wayne County, N.C.
- Commercial Operation: Dec. 31, 2012
- Retired Units: Three coal-fired units, totaling 382 MW, were retired in September 2012.
Smith Plant
- Capacity: 600 MW
- Location: Richmond County, N.C.
- Commercial Operation: mid-2011
Sutton Plant
- Capacity: 625 MW
- Location: Wilmington, N.C.
- Expected Commercial Operation: late-2013
- Retired Units: Currently three coal-fired units at the Sutton Plant supply the area with generation. Once the new combined cycle plant comes online, Duke Energy plans to retire the 575-MW plant.
With a projected investment of $600 million, the plant will take 24 months to build and create more than 700 construction jobs.
The Sutton Plant is also home to one of the company’s largest renewable-energy projects, a 1.2-MW solar array.
- Buck Combined Cycle Station (pdf, 3080 KB)
- Dan River Combined Cycle Station (pdf, 386 KB)
- H.F. Lee Combined Cycle Plant (pdf, 245 KB)
