NC House advances bill addressing data center development, mandating new nuclear

[Marlin]

https://www.wunc.org/politics/2026-06-02/industry-groups-express-alarm-about-nc-data-center-bill

[Core Content]

The North Carolina House of Representatives advanced legislation requiring Duke Energy to secure approval for a new nuclear plant of at least 1,000 megawatts before retiring existing coal or natural gas facilities. The bill also imposes strict operational requirements on large data centers regarding water usage, noise, and electricity cost allocation.

This policy links the expansion of baseload nuclear generation directly to the retirement of fossil fuel assets. By mandating nuclear capacity as a prerequisite for plant decommissioning, the state aims to ensure grid reliability amid rising energy demand. The legislation reflects broader regulatory efforts to prioritize long-term, constant power sources in regional energy planning.

The legislation, which is working through the NC House, would require large data centers to have closed loop cooling systems and have contracts for their electric purchases that prevent costs from being passed on to ratepayers.

The N.C. House of Representatives quickly moved an energy bill Tuesday that would place guardrails around data center development in North Carolina and require Duke Energy to obtain permission to build a large new nuclear plant before retiring coal or gas plants.

"The Ratepayer Protection Act puts our families and small businesses first by making data centers pay their fair share and strengthen grid reliability," Rep. Matthew Winslow, R-Franklin, one of the bill's authors, said during the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

Read the full article at WUNC News:
https://www.wunc.org/politics/2026-06-02/industry-groups-express-alarm-about-nc-data-center-bill