Trump Administration Awards Duke Energy $28.4M for NC Coal Plant Upgrades
Federal grant targets coal plant upgrades as part of Trump administration’s $525 million investment in fossil fuel infrastructure nationwide.
ROXBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — The Trump administration awarded Duke Energy a $28.4 million grant to upgrade its coal-fired power plant in Person County, marking a federal investment in fossil fuel infrastructure as part of a broader national energy strategy.
The Roxboro plant was selected as one of 13 projects nationwide to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, according to an agency announcement last week. The grants aim to strengthen domestic coal mining operations, support baseload power generation, and enhance energy infrastructure across the country.
“This funding supports previously planned critical upgrades that help ensure we can continue delivering reliable power to our North Carolina customers while keeping costs as low as possible,” said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in North Carolina.
Part of $525 Million National Investment
The grant is part of the administration’s broader $525 million commitment to coal power nationwide, aimed at streamlining production and modernizing existing facilities. The funding initiative demonstrates the current administration’s emphasis on traditional energy sources over renewable alternatives.
The investment comes amid ongoing policy shifts away from clean energy initiatives, including recent decisions affecting wind and solar projects in North Carolina. The administration has previously moved to scale back offshore wind development and pause certain solar initiatives across the state.
Environmental Groups Voice Opposition
Environmental advocates criticized the federal funding allocation, arguing that taxpayer money should support renewable energy development rather than coal infrastructure.
“This follows a bigger payoff to kill clean wind in N.C., and shows the Trump administration only cares about rewarding oil, gas, coal and power companies, not helping ordinary working people struggling to pay their electric bills,” Dan Crawford, senior director for public affairs at the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, told NC Newsline.
Crawford characterized the use of taxpayer dollars to support coal operations as “incredibly dumb and wasteful,” advocating instead for increased investment in solar and wind energy sources, which he described as “cheap, fast and clean.”
Energy Infrastructure Modernization
The Department of Energy’s Defense Production Act funding targets upgrades at coal facilities nationwide, with the goal of maintaining reliable baseload power generation capacity. The Roxboro plant’s selection indicates its strategic importance within the regional power grid serving North Carolina customers.
Duke Energy operates the coal-fired facility in Person County as part of its broader electricity generation portfolio serving customers throughout the state. The utility company emphasized that the federal grant would support previously planned infrastructure improvements at the facility.
The funding announcement reflects ongoing national debates over energy policy priorities, with the current administration favoring traditional fossil fuel sources while environmental groups push for accelerated renewable energy development to address climate concerns and reduce long-term electricity costs for consumers.
