U.S. Military Bases in Carolinas Aims Solar in Major Clean Energy Deal

Other than electric vehicles (EVs) aligning with the goals of solar energy solutions, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has announced a partnership with Duke Energy to power five major military installations in North and South Carolina with renewable solar energy. The deal will meet the Biden administration’s goal of powering the entire federal government with 100% clean electricity by 2030.

DoD’s Partnership With Duke Energy

Under the $248 million agreement, the DoD will be the exclusive buyer of the electricity generated from two new large-scale solar farms that Duke Energy will construct in South Carolina. In detail, the 135-megawatt solar facilities are anticipated to come online by September 2026 and will deliver an estimated 4.8 million megawatt-hours of carbon-free power over 15 years.

Andrew Mayock, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, expressed the DoD’s proactive approach to align with the Biden administration’s goal stating, “DoD is leading by example on climate change in ways that will spur new clean electricity production, create good-paying jobs, increase our resilience to climate change, and enhance our national security.”

In regards to which military bases this partnership has chosen, the military bases benefiting from the clean energy include U.S. Army Fort Liberty, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, as well as Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Solar Energy Solution Targets

In addition, the partnership deal is part of Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program. Notably, this program is made to enable large non-residential customers to secure renewable energy from utility-scale projects connected to Duke’s power grid according to Duke Energy, where customers can receive credits for the solar farm’s electricity output against their regular power purchases.

Julie Janson, EVP and CEO, Duke Energy Carolinas, expressed the importance of the partnership with the DoD stating, “Through our collaboration with the Department of Defense, they are not only achieving their own sustainability goals but enabling millions of customers across the Carolinas to share in the benefits of renewable energy.”

As the landmark solar deal represents a major push by the DoD to meet the Biden administration’s ambitious clean energy targets, it also prioritizes with the aims for energy security and resilience for its military goals. As a result, the Biden administration’s goal for clean energy from acceleration toward electric mobility to implementing more solar energy solutions is clear.

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