Duke Energy continues to make great strides at expanding renewable energy.

The company’s regulated business continues to pursue large-scale renewable projects, which spur economic development in the regions we serve. For example:

• In September, we announced a $500 million solar expansion in North Carolina to own and operate three large-scale projects and enter into power purchase agreements with five other large-scale projects.
• Early in 2015, Duke Energy announced a 13-MW solar facility at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina – the company’s first at a military base. With Duke Energy’s help, North Carolina is now fourth in the nation for installed solar power.
• In Indiana, the company signed four power purchase agreements for 20 MW of large-scale solar – a first for Duke Energy in that state.

Across all jurisdictions, we continue to work with regulators and diverse stakeholder groups to develop policies that promote growth of renewables with sustainable electricity rates for our customers. In South Carolina, the company was a key part of helping achieve comprehensive solar legislation and we are proposing solar programs for our residential and nonresidential customers.

Duke Energy is also pursuing partnerships that advance research and education. In Florida, we have been partnering with universities to install solar systems. Since 2003, we have funded more than $6 million for solar installations at more than 45 schools and universities.

Duke Energy’s commercial portfolio, operating in areas outside of the company’s regulated footprint, continues to provide growth opportunities. Today, Duke Energy Renewables (DER) owns around 1,700 MW of wind power and 150 MW of solar power operating in 12 states. DER brought on about 100 MW of new solar capacity in 2014 – making an overall total of nearly 1,900 MW for the unregulated business. DER sells the electricity and renewable energy certificates (RECs) from these facilities to its customers.

DER also has three wind power projects underway in Texas that will add more than 500 MW of emissions-free electricity to the company’s renewables portfolio. These projects generate the majority of their power during the day, when customer demand is greatest. With completion dates of mid-2015 into mid-2016, the Los Vientos III, IV and V wind projects can collectively power about 150,000 homes.

One innovative project for DER in 2014 was a 52-MW solar facility that will sell power to George Washington University, American University, and George Washington University Hospital. The project will allow these customers to reduce their energy costs and meet their sustainability goals.