Energy Efficiency, Utilities, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 31, 2018

Utility Roundup: Duke Energy, PPL Corp. announce moves

Duke Energy announced that it has renewed a long-term PPA with Craven County Wood Energy, a 50-megawatt biomass facility in North Carolina. This agreement continues the company’s plan to diversify its electricity mix with biomass and alternative energy.

Duke Energy reports that the agreement will help satisfy state poultry and biomass energy mandates, as the Craven County facility uses wood and poultry waste to generate electricity. Duke Energy will buy 100 percent of the energy and associated renewable energy certificates (RECs) from the facility.

"The increased usage of poultry waste will help Duke Energy better meet state mandates for renewable energy and makes the facility more valuable to the company and its customers," said Gary Freeman, general manager of Duke Energy's renewable energy compliance.

 The PPL Corporation announced a goal to cut the company's carbon dioxide emissions 70% from 2010 levels by 2050. Reductions are expected to come from replacing Kentucky coal-fired generation with a mix of renewables and natural gas, as well as through improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from substations and reducing vehicle fleet emissions across the company’s U.S. and U.K operations.

"As the world considers climate change and as PPL looks to the future, we will continue to take steps to minimize our impact on the environment, transform the way we generate electricity and incorporate new, lower-emitting technology," said William H. Spence, chairman, president and chief executive officer for PPL Corporation.

Spence reports that PPL has cut its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly half since 2010, including nearly 4,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation. The company has replaced approximately 900 megawatts of coal capacity in Kentucky with a new, highly efficient natural gas, combined-cycle unit that emits about 60% less CO2 per megawatt-hour.

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