Wind Energy

Since 2007 Duke Energy has committed more than $1 billion to build its wind power business. The company has 735 megawatts of clean, renewable wind energy in commercial operation – a figure that will rise to nearly 1,000 megawatts by the end of 2010. Duke Energy has an additional 5,000 megawatts in potential wind energy development projects.

Investing in zero-carbon wind power is one way Duke Energy is trying to reduce its environmental footprint while meeting demand for reliable, affordable and increasingly clean electricity.

Commercial Wind Power Development

Through a series of strategic acquisitions and development projects, Duke Energy has positioned itself as an emerging leader in the field of wind power generation.

Duke Energy acquired the wind development assets of Tierra Energy, a leading wind power developer, in May 2007. The purchase of the Austin, Texas-based company brought Duke Energy more than 1,000 megawatts of wind assets under development in the Western and Southwestern United States. Duke Energy finalized its purchase of Catamount Energy, based in Rutland, Vt., in September 2008 to significantly enhance its wind portfolio. The acquisition included an interest in the Sweetwater project in Nolan County, Texas – one of the largest wind projects in the world.

Duke Energy owns a total of seven wind power projects in commercial operation: three in Texas, three in Wyoming and one in Pennsylvania. In 2010, we will bring on line a fourth Wyoming wind farm and our first wind project in Colorado. 

For a summary of all of Duke Energy’s wind power projects, please refer to “Wind Power Projects Fact Sheet” at the top of this page under Related Links.

Wind Power Purchase Agreements in our Retail States

Duke Energy reached an agreement in August 2006 to purchase up to 100 megawatts of wind power capacity at Indiana’s first commercial wind farm in Benton County, Indiana. The 20-year agreement was the first significant, long-term purchase of wind power in Indiana. Duke Energy began purchasing power from the Benton County Wind Farm in April 2008.

By issuing multiple Requests for Proposals, Duke Energy has also demonstrated its commitment to expanding the use of renewable energy resources in Indiana and Ohio. The company hopes to elicit proposals that could result in the delivery of substantial renewable power in the near future. Wind energy qualifies as a renewable resource that could help Duke Energy build its low-carbon energy portfolio in these states.

Partnering to Study Offshore Wind Power

In 2009, we signed an agreement with the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill to construct up to three demonstration wind turbines in the Pamlico Sound, a large body of water between the mainland and the state’s Outer Banks. These demonstration wind turbines may be among the first placed in waters off the U.S. coast. Under the agreement, Duke Energy will supply and install the wind turbines. UNC will conduct research to gauge the feasibility of generating electricity from offshore wind farms.

Building Bridges to a Low-Carbon Future

Duke Energy will continue to look for opportunities to explore the potential of wind, a renewable and zero-carbon emission energy source, to meet growing demand.