Duke Energy and Piedmont to build natural gas pipeline in North Carolina

Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas are set to issue a solicitation for proposals to build a second wholesale natural gas pipeline in North Carolina.

The companies plan to operate the new pipeline to address the growing demand for the fuel in the Carolinas and surrounding states.

Duke Energy’s increasing reliance on natural gas to generate electricity, coupled with Piedmont’s growing customer demand, have prompted the companies to invest in a new pipeline that would bolster the reliability and diversity of natural gas supplies.

At present North Carolina is primarily served by a single major wholesale interstate natural gas pipeline that runs through the state.

The solicitation stated that a new pipeline would expand the "access to competitive, secure, diverse and abundant supplies," and "enhance the reliability of future natural gas deliveries into the state."

The pipeline route would provide geographical diversity relative to the path of North Carolina’s existing major wholesale interstate pipeline and would also allow for future expansions with minimal environmental impact.

Duke Energy has opened five new, cleaner-burning, natural gas-fired power plants in North Carolina since 2011, to replace older, less efficient coal-fired power plants. These are supplied with natural gas by Piedmont pipelines.

The company has also proposed a new natural gas-fired power plant in South Carolina, that will have lower levels of air emissions.

Since 2005, Duke Energy has built natural gas-fired power plants, closed coal-fired power plants and installed additional emission control equipment to reduce company-wide carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, sulphur dioxide emissions by 84% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 63%.

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Image: Duke Energy Centre. Photo: courtesy of Duke_Energy_Center_and_The_Westin_Charlotte,_2010.jpg: Justin Cozart