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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 17, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-g <br /> SUBJECT: Comment Letter Addressing Duke Energy's Proposed Carbon Plan Integrated <br /> Resource Plan (CPIRP) Submitted to the North Carolina Utilities Commission <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. CPIRP Comment Letter Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Programs <br /> Manager, 919-245-2626 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve joining regional local government partners as a signatory to a joint <br /> comment letter addressing Duke Energy's proposed Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan, <br /> submitted to the North Carolina Utilities Commission on October 1, 2025. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted House Bill 951, <br /> which was signed into law by former Governor Roy Cooper, directing the North Carolina <br /> Utilities Commission (NCUC), in coordination with electric public utilities and stakeholders, to <br /> develop a Carbon Plan to achieve a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon <br /> neutrality by 2050, with updates required every two years. <br /> In 2025, the General Assembly adopted Senate Bill 266, eliminating the interim 2030 <br /> emissions reduction target. The statutory requirement to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 <br /> remains in place. The Carbon Plan is integrated into Duke Energy's Integrated Resource <br /> Planning (IRP) process, forming the Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan (CPIRP). <br /> The CPIRP has significant implications for local governments working to meet greenhouse <br /> gas (GHG) reduction and renewable energy goals. <br /> Orange County's Climate Action Plan (CAP) establishes targets of reducing GHG emissions <br /> 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The County also adopted a 2017 <br /> resolution to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. CAP Action Built Environment <br /> (BE) 2.1.3 calls for active engagement in utility planning and legislative processes to ensure <br /> alignment with County climate goals. <br /> In collaboration with regional partners, a group of local governments has developed a joint <br /> letter to the North Carolina Utilities Commission encouraging adoption of a CPIRP that <br /> provides affordable and reliable energy without compromising clean energy and resiliency <br /> goals. The letter urges the Commission to: <br /> • Increase transparency in load forecasting to protect customers from unnecessary long- <br /> term costs. <br />