Nation’s Largest Utility Grid Operator CEO: The AI Revolution Is Here, and Duke Energy Is Ready
By Harry Sideris
President Trump has made it clear: America will win the global AI race – and we will do so decisively. At the root of AI supremacy lies American energy dominance. As Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, “AI transforms electricity into the most valuable output imaginable: intelligence.” Energy dominance protects our national security, fortifies and accelerates America’s economic future and prioritizes technological innovation. It also ensures our country can not only power the AI revolution but also maintain the reliability of service Americans deserve and keeping energy prices as low as possible.
As the Trump administration unveils its AI Action Plan, Duke Energy is at the forefront of meeting this moment of record energy demand with innovation, determination, speed and reliability. Data centers are multiplying across the country and our footprint to power the AI revolution, and we’re putting everything on the line to power America’s future and lead the way in energy dominance. We have invested more than $100 billion in critical American energy infrastructure over the last decade and plan to invest $190 billion more over the next decade. We are upgrading our current generation fleet to get more electricity from existing resources on the grid quickly, actively building new generation to support AI energy demand, and have more construction planned, which will bring an additional approximately 14 gigawatts on line through 2030, enough energy to power more than 10 million homes, while simultaneously upgrading hundreds of thousands of miles of power lines to deliver energy more reliably and efficiently. Duke Energy is on the grid and in the game.
Innovation is essential – not optional – and has been in our DNA since our founders dammed a river to electrify a state. We are boldly forging into the future with innovative solutions, smarter grids, and next-generation technology. From AI-ready grids to self-healing technology, we keep the lights on, the power flowing, and the country moving and growing.
We’re maximizing our existing energy fleet while advancing new power generation sources. Nuclear energy is core to America’s energy future, and as the largest regulated operator, we have the knowhow and plans to keep our nuclear plants operating safely for decades to come. In addition to extending the life of our nuclear plants, we are pursuing ongoing projects to add over 1 gigawatt of capacity to our existing natural gas, nuclear and hydro fleets. We’re adding new advanced, efficient natural gas to provide always-on power to serve some of the fastest growing regions in the country. We also offer innovative options to help customers reduce their bills and make their homes more efficient while protecting grid reliability.
We are broadening our strategic engagements to power today and grow for tomorrow. We have the expertise, relationships, and capacity to position ourselves for long-term success. Earlier this year, we announced an innovative partnership with GE Vernova enabling us to procure up to 19 American-produced natural gas turbines. This ensures we can meet our customers’ growing and evolving energy needs driven by economic development and AI growth today and into the future. Our scale helps us secure these critical supplies while maintaining flexibility to deploy them as needs arise. After considering sites in 40-plus states, last month, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a $10 billion investment in North Carolina to expand its AI infrastructure and support cloud computing technologies. By aligning with pivotal partners and delivering with speed, we’ve helped successfully position North Carolina – as we’re doing across all our service territories – as a top place to do business. We are open for business and uniquely positioned to shape our industry’s future as we operate in some of the most attractive jurisdictions in the country.
We’re shaping and leading the path forward for energy dominance – all the while keeping energy reliable and prices as low as possible for our customers. We are working every day in close collaboration with stakeholders, customers, local, state, and federal officials to help our nation become the global leader in AI and manufacturing. To that end, we applaud Congress and the administration for advancing energy policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill that both benefit our customers and accelerate progress toward our national goals, including credits for existing and new nuclear and energy storage.
Reliable, affordable, and abundant energy is the bedrock upon which American AI innovation, deployment, and dominance will be built, and we are ready, willing, and able to help the United States meet its goals of energy dominance and American AI leadership.
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