Zachary Turner

This weekend put a strain on energy grids across the East Coast, downing power lines and testing power plants. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality launched an energy rebate program in Mecklenburg and Wake counties that helps alleviate stress on the grid while saving people money on their monthly utility bills.

Governor Stein has teamed up with federal officials to put pressure on data centers to pay for their own power, as concern mounts over who will bear the costs of fueling the AI boom.

Last year, three Democrats joined Republicans to override Gov. Stein’s veto of a controversial energy bill. Those Democrats face primary challenges.

As North Carolina continues decarbonizing its energy supply, giant batteries are one tool for keeping the lights on when the sun isn’t shining and the wind stops blowing. Duke Energy has brought a 50-megawatt battery online at the site of the former Allen coal plant in Gaston County.

This week’s unseasonably warm weather is a reminder that free energy abounds in the form of the sun’s rays. A new program aims to give Charlotte’s low-income residents access to that energy, free of cost.

Last October, a developer withdrew plans for a proposed data center in Matthews after residents objected. Now, the same developer is pursuing a new site in North Carolina’s Triad region.

Duke plans to replace its existing coal power plants with nuclear reactors before 2040. These power plants take an average of 10 years to build. The utility submitted an early site permit application for potential new nuclear development in North Carolina.

President Trump has railed against renewable energy — especially wind turbines. But for one county in eastern North Carolina, they’re producing some real economic tailwinds.

The Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement would extend gas transmission lines in Rockingham, Guilford, Forsyth and Davidson counties. The route runs through the Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds, according to the Sierra Club.

Duke Energy has proposed steep rate hikes for residential customers, starting in 2027. Some customers see a discrepancy between the company’s profits, forecasted savings and these requested rate increases.