Rep. Meadows' Statement on Duke Energy's Investment in Asheville Plant
Duke Energy announced its plans on Tuesday to invest $1.1 billion to retire the Asheville coal plant and build a new state-of-the-art natural gas plant and solar installation in its place. The 376-megawatt Asheville coal plant will be retired over the next four to five years and replaced with a 650-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant, and solar installation. Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) praised Duke Energy’s investment in Asheville:
“Thank you to Duke Energy for its generous and forward-looking investment in the community of Asheville. This plan is a win for both customers and the environment. Projections show that the natural gas plant will be significantly less expensive to operate over time than the current coal plant, ultimately saving money for customers in North Carolina and Northern South Carolina. Duke Energy continues to be a leading innovator in the field of sustainable energy and I am grateful they chose to invest in our community. This investment will provide reliable, clean, and safe energy and contribute greatly to economic growth in our region. Duke Energy’s investment is confirmation that the future of Western North Carolina is bright indeed,” Congressman Meadows said.
