Duke Energy has announced the cancellation of its planned offshore wind projects off North Carolina’s coast. The move was primarily driven by financial considerations, as the request for information (RFP) process determined that offshore wind is not cost-competitive at this time. Duke Energy had previously secured lease areas capable of generating up to 1.6 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power approximately 375,000 homes. The decision follows recent federal actions, including the Department of Interior’s halt on new offshore wind lease sales and increased scrutiny of already-approved projects. Duke Energy stated that while the company remains committed to its clean energy transition, it will now focus on other zero-carbon technologies including solar, battery storage, and small modular nuclear reactors to meet North Carolina’s carbon reduction goals. More information can be found here.
