North Carolina regulators have ordered Duke Energy to pause its next round of solar development, delaying decisions on new projects as the state finalizes a broader long-term energy plan.

In an order, issued April 23, the North Carolina Utilities Commission directed Duke Energy to halt its 2026 solar procurement process — including early-stage planning — until regulators complete their review of the company’s updated Carbon Plan and integrated resource plan.

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The decision could push new solar approvals well into late 2026 or beyond, with a final order on the broader plan not expected for at least six months.

What’s being delayed

Duke Energy had proposed adding about 770 megawatts of new solar generation through its 2026 procurement cycle, part of a multi-year effort to expand renewable energy and meet state climate goals.

That process is now on hold.

Regulators said any decisions about how much solar to build should be made only after the Commission determines the state’s overall energy strategy — including the balance between solar, battery storage and other sources.

Why regulators hit pause

The Commission pointed to a series of major changes over the past year that could reshape North Carolina’s energy mix, including:

  • The elimination of a key 2030 carbon reduction target under recent state law
    • Changes to federal solar tax incentives
      • Duke Energy’s updated long-term planning proposal, which is still under review

        Regulators said those shifts make it premature to lock in solar procurement targets now.

        Instead, they want to base future decisions on a finalized plan that reflects current policy, costs and energy demand.

        What happens next

        Hearings on Duke Energy’s updated Carbon Plan are scheduled to begin in June.

        Once the Commission issues a final order in that case, Duke will have 10 business days to either reaffirm its proposed solar targets or revise them to align with the new plan.

        What it means

        The move does not cancel solar development in North Carolina, but it does delay near-term decisions on new projects — creating uncertainty for developers and signaling a potential shift in how quickly renewable energy is added to the grid.

        Consumer and environmental advocates argue the delay could also have financial impacts for customers already facing rising utility bills.

        “More than ever, North Carolina households need cheap power, and competitively procured utility-scale solar is the cheapest and most rapidly scalable source of new electricity available,” said Will Scott, North Carolina policy director for Environmental Defense Fund. “Delaying new solar procurements will only hurt households and the businesses that rely on North Carolina’s pro-business environment when making investments in the state.”

        Analysis of Duke Energy filings cited by the group shows that over the last four years, competitively procured clean energy has been about 29% cheaper than electricity generated from natural gas in North Carolina.

        Advocates also point to volatility in natural gas prices as a driver of higher bills, with some analyses attributing a significant share of recent rate increases to fuel costs.

        “At a time of rising bills, we need to maximize, not delay, competitive procurement of least-cost energy,” Scott said. “In North Carolina, that means solar and battery storage.”

        It also underscores the Commission’s intent to take a broader, more centralized approach to planning the state’s energy future, one that could reshape the pace and scale of solar expansion in the years ahead.