In a significant move towards bolstering its commitment to renewable energy, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) has partnered with Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) program. This collaboration aims to provide sustainable energy solutions across major military installations in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Under the agreement, the DOD will procure renewable energy equivalent to 135 megawatts and approximately 4.8 million megawatt-hours over a 15-year period. This energy will be sourced from two new solar facilities in South Carolina, developed and operated by energyRe, pending local and state approvals. The projects are scheduled to commence operations by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Duke Energy’s GSA initiative enables large nonresidential customers, including municipalities and corporations such as Bank of America and Duke University, to offset their electricity consumption with renewable energy sourced directly from the Duke Energy grid. Participants in the program receive Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which validate their use of sustainable energy to meet environmental and carbon-free energy objectives.
This partnership is part of the broader efforts under Executive Order 14057, which mandates federal agencies to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, with 50% of that requirement met on a 24/7 basis. By joining Duke Energy’s GSA program, the DOD aims to advance towards these ambitious goals while enhancing energy resilience and sustainability across its operational bases.
Duke Energy, recognized as a leader in the clean energy sector in the United States, currently owns and operates more than 5,100 megawatts of solar power across its Carolinas grid. This capacity is sufficient to meet the annual electricity needs of nearly one million homes and businesses. North Carolina, ranked fifth in the nation for solar power generation, benefits significantly from Duke Energy’s diverse energy portfolio, which includes nuclear, hydro, and renewable sources, contributing to over half of the state’s energy mix being carbon-free.
Through initiatives like the GSA program, Duke Energy continues to drive the largest clean energy transformation in the country, positioning itself and its partners to achieve substantial progress in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy practices.
This collaboration not only underscores the DOD’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also highlights the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in advancing renewable energy infrastructure and resilience across critical sectors in the United States.