Advancing the future of energy with Richmond County

Duke Energy is focused on delivering reliable, increasingly clean energy to the customers and communities we serve, all while keeping energy prices low.

Richmond County has been home to power generation at the Sherwood H. Smith Jr. Energy Complex since 2001. Following significant upgrades in 2002 and 2011, the site today features two combined-cycle units that generate 1,250 megawatts (MWs) of energy and five combustion turbines (CTs) with a total generating capacity of 1,000 MWs. A sixth CT was envisioned for future expansion as the region grew and site plans identify a bay adjacent to the existing units for the new unit.

Smith has been an important part of the community for more than two decades and has helped power remarkable growth and prosperity in North Carolina, which continues today.

Smith Project Map
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North Carolina is growing at an unprecedented rate. Our life-sciences sector is booming and we’re the top state in the nation for manufacturing as well as the top state for business overall. Our state has a vibrant pipeline of jobs and investments across all industries, and we must meet that diverse growth for both new and existing customers.

By collaborating with communities throughout the region, Duke Energy is building new power generation facilities to help ensure our economy continues to thrive. Building new generation facilities at existing plant sites allows us to leverage the land we already have and optimize our transmission system, infrastructure and local workforce. This approach not only promotes more efficient energy modernization, but also helps keep costs as low as possible for our customers.

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Questions or Comments?

Your feedback is important to us. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at 888.810.0417 or NCNewGeneration@duke-energy.com. We’ll address your comments and concerns in a timely fashion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Energy diversity is essential for ensuring reliable electricity supply during periods when resources such as solar and wind are unavailable. When temperatures are extreme and energy demand is at its highest, we depend on a diverse energy mix – including natural gas – to serve customers.

We’re planning for the future with a diverse energy mix that includes existing and advanced nuclear energy, new hydrogen-capable natural gas, along with renewables and battery storage, as part of a reliable transition to a lower-carbon future in North Carolina.

Diversifying our fuel sources also helps increase reliability and keep costs lower for customers.
We are exploring a variety of technologies across the Carolinas, including advanced nuclear, natural gas and renewable energy sources – all of which are critical to supporting ongoing economic growth. Our primary objective is to responsibly modernize our energy infrastructure while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers and fostering continued job creation and investment in the region.
Our first step is to identify the best new generation options and pinpoint the locations where these options would be most effective. This includes prioritizing our current power plant communities to make the most of our existing land, infrastructure and workforce, which in turn reduces costs for customers.

Once we’ve identified potential sites, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation process to determine their suitability for a new plant. This includes seeking public input on our plans as part of a comprehensive review and application process overseen by regulators. Before any new generation plants can be constructed, the comprehensive review ensures all perspectives are considered.

Throughout this process, we remain committed to keeping local plant communities informed and involved, ensuring transparency and collaboration every step of the way.
Engaging with our community is incredibly important to us. We want to ensure that you’re well informed and have ample opportunities to ask questions and share your thoughts. To do this, we’ll be organizing a variety of events, such as open houses and one-on-one conversations, along with providing regular online updates. If you have any special requests or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

You can contact us at 888.810.0417 or NCNewGen@duke-energy.com. Additionally, we’ll keep you updated with the latest information and updates on this project webpage. We look forward to hearing from you and value your input.