CHARLOTTE -- Duke Energy, the country's largest electricity company, is planning to spend $500 million to expand its solar electricity use in North Carolina with three generating facilities of its own and power purchased from five others built by investors. Jim Warren, Executive Director with NC Warn, says this is a positive step for renewable energy.

Warren said, "Bringing on more solar is a way to avoid rate hikes from building power plants that we don't need. And it's good for all customers, because of that, and, because of pollution and coal ash and all of the things that are voided by bringing on solar."

However, Warren did add this is the only solar energy Duke is planning to bring to the Tar Heel state over the next 15 years.