As Person County waits, Duke to argue merits of new power plant on Tuesday

Plans to build another natural-gas power plant could begin Tuesday morning.

State regulators in Raleigh will begin testimony on Duke Energy’s request to build its plant on the same site as another one.

Environmental regulators in January approved air pollution permits for two new Duke plants, one in Person County and another in Catawba County. It was part of the state’s push to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

The plan has drawn a lot of attention and mixed opinions from across the state.

Faye Woods’ roots in Person County go back decades. Now, she, like other residents in the county, says they’re worried about the environmental impacts of the plant on the county.

“Me and my brothers and sisters have inherited, like, hundreds of acres of property. It was passed down from generation to generation,” Woods said. “They need to take into consideration the environmental disadvantage … to increase greenhouse gas emissions.”

Like Woods, environmental groups and solar advocates shared concerns that the plant will contribute to climate change, as natural gas plants emit much more methane than coal plants, and methane is a key greenhouse gas that’s blamed for climate change.

Person County will be the location for not just new power plants, but a new natural gas storage facility and a new gas pipeline. All three have been approved by county commissioners in recent years.

Some residents told WRAL News they moved away from the county because of the decision, adding that they felt that county commissioners ignored them, but Woods says she doesn’t have that option. 

“Sometimes, I feel like I just want to get up and move already, but financially I can’t,” Woods said.

Duke Energy said the plant is needed because power demands have grown faster than they projected, adding that gas-fueled plants will be cleaner than the coal-powered plants they are replacing because they’ll emit less carbon dioxide, particulates, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission will hear arguments from both sides in the case at 10 a.m. at the Dobbs Building in downtown Raleigh.