FROM INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING

Duke Energy has announced a three-year delay in retiring its Gibson coal plant, according to the company’s latest 20-year plan. Two of the plant’s coal units will be converted to burn both natural gas and coal, allowing the facility to continue coal operations until 2038.

The company will also hold off on expanding its renewable energy portfolio until the mid to late 2030s. Duke Energy Indiana spokesperson Angeline Protogere explained the delay, citing the need for reliable, dispatchable power that’s not weather-dependent. The growing demand for electricity, driven by business expansions, data centers, and electric vehicle use, is a key factor.

Critics, including the Sierra Club, argue that other Indiana utilities are moving away from coal more quickly. If Duke sticks to its plan, it could burn coal a decade longer than other investor-owned utilities in the state. Scientists emphasize the need to reduce coal use by 2030 to avoid severe climate impacts.

Protogere noted that Duke’s plans could change if new regulations under the Clean Air Act mandate lower greenhouse gas emissions.