North Carolina Utilities Commission Blocks Duke Energy Gas Plant

The North Carolina Utilities Commission blocked the 250-megawatt project, which Duke Energy intended to build to support a new 21-building Amazon facility near Charlotte. Commissioners cited the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, arguing that the utility failed to prove that consumers would be shielded from the financial burden of construction costs. Under this voluntary agreement, companies are expected to implement clear cost-recovery mechanisms to prevent data center infrastructure from driving up utility bills for the public.

This rejection arrives as the U.S. accelerates its gas production, with dry gas output projected to climb to 115.9 billion cubic feet per day by 2027. A Global Energy Monitor report indicates that U.S. gas-fired capacity under development has risen by 76% in the first half of the year, largely to meet the electricity demands of AI data centers. While the Trump administration has prioritized the rapid construction of these hubs by streamlining environmental reviews, local resistance is intensifying. Bank of America data shows that U.S. utility bills have outpaced inflation in recent months, fueling public concern that the rush for digital infrastructure is shifting costs onto residential ratepayers.