Duke Energy looking to create new renewable programs for customers
Duke Energy is looking to create new customer renewable energy programs and expand an existing one in South Carolina.
The company laid out the details of the initiative in filings this week with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina.
One of the new programs is called Renewable Choice, which would allow large-load customers to contract with either of Duke Energy’s South Carolina utilities to provide locally sourced environmental attributes, including renewable energy certificates (REC) generated from utilities or third parties. It is designed to meet the needs of the companies most advanced in their sustainability journey.
Another new proposed program is called Clean Energy Impact. It is for non-residential customers who want to claim a certain percentage of renewable energy through environmental attribute purchases in support of corporate sustainability goals or for residential customers who want to support the local renewable energy industry.
“Many of our largest customers prioritize renewable power sources and are making decarbonization a long-term part of their business plans,” Lon Huber, Duke Energy’s senior vice president of pricing and customer solutions, said. “Duke Energy is proud to offer these customers a wide range of options, including the ability to match their hourly use with carbon-free energy in one of the country’s first 24×7 clean energy programs.”
In addition, changes are being proposed for an existing program – Green Source Advantage. The requested changes would provide an option that allows large customers to offset their power purchases by securing renewable energy from projects connected to the Duke Energy grid. Customers may count the renewable energy generated to satisfy sustainability or carbon-free goals.
“A majority of South Carolina’s leading employers have explicit decarbonization goals, and the carbon intensity of electricity suppliers is top-of-mind for economic development prospects, too,” Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president, said. “Recruiting the next big employer to South Carolina may hinge on helping achieve their corporate sustainability goals. We believe these programs and the stakeholder feedback that helped create them will be critical in attracting and retaining companies in the 21st century.”
It would also allow customers to contract for up to 100 percent of their energy use compared to the current approximately 30 percent.
