AQ_GEN_PIO_20241011_MISC_PressRls

Oct. 11, 2024

DEQ to Hold Public Hearings on Air Quality Permits for Coal
Replacement Projects at 2 Duke Energy Facilities
RALEIGH –  The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air
Quality (DAQ) invites the public to provide comment on two draft air quality permit
revisions for Duke Energy.
Duke Energy is seeking to retire coal-fired boilers at two power plants: Duke Energy
Progress, LLC - Roxboro Steam Electric Plant in Person County, and Duke Energy
Carolinas, LLC - Marshall Steam Station in Catawba County. These units would be
replaced with new natural gas-fired turbines, leading to significant reductions in air
emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
DAQ will hold two public hearings to receive comments on each draft air quality permit.
The first hearing on Nov. 12 will be to receive comments on Roxboro Steam Electric
Plant’s draft air quality permit.
Public Hearing on Duke Energy Progress, LLC - Roxboro Steam Electric Plant
Date and Time: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Location: Piedmont Community College auditorium, Room D-101
Address: 1715 College Drive, Roxboro
The second public hearing on Nov. 19 will be to receive comments on Marshall Steam
Station’s draft air quality permit.
Public Hearing on Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC - Marshall Steam Station
Date and Time: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Location: Lake Norman High School auditorium
Address: 186 Doolie Road, Mooresville
The proposal to replace coal with natural gas at these facilities is part of Duke Energy’s
Carbon Plan submitted to the N.C. Utilities Commission to comply with the carbon
dioxide emissions reductions required by Session Law 2021-165 (House Bill 951). The
projects are associated with overall greenhouse gas emissions reductions from Duke
Energy in North Carolina. In addition to air quality permitting, the projects are subject to
approval from the N.C. Utilities Commission.
After two coal boilers at Marshall Steam Station are retired, the facility will emit 1,981
fewer tons of NOx and 1,196 fewer tons of SO2 each year. Retiring the six coal boilers
at the Roxboro facility will lead to 4,130 fewer tons of NOx and 3,675 fewer tons of SO2
each year. Emissions of fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide and toxic air pollutants
such as sulfuric acid, arsenic and a variety of heavy metals would also see substantial
decreases.
The draft air quality permit requires that each new turbine be equipped with low-nitrogen
oxide burners and be controlled by an oxidational catalyst and a selective catalytic
reduction system. The facilities would also be required to continuously track emissions
of several criteria air pollutants. Both plants would be subject to recordkeeping and
reporting requirements and regular inspections.
Air dispersion modeling reviewed by DAQ demonstrated that emissions of toxic air
pollutants at both facilities are not expected to cause an exceedance of any acceptable
ambient level.
Copies of the respective public notice, draft permit, draft permit review, permit
application and one-page project fact sheet for each facility are available online:
• Roxboro Steam Electric Plant Public Notice Documents
• Marshall Steam Station Public Notice Documents (documents to be posted no
later than Friday, Oct. 18)
The public is encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearings and provide
comments on the proposed actions. Sign-up will be available upon arrival. Oral
comments at the hearings should be limited to three minutes or less. Written comments
may also be submitted during the hearings.
Comments on these projects can also be submitted until Nov. 22, 2024, via the
following methods:
Roxboro Steam Electric Plant Public Comments
• Email to [e-mail] with “DukeRoxboro.24A” in the
subject line
• Voicemail by calling at 919-707-8714
• Postal mail at the address below
Marshall Steam Station Public Comments
• Email to [e-mail] with “DukeMarshall.24A” in the
subject line
• Voicemail by calling at 919-707-8726.
• Postal mail at the address below
Mailed comments should be postmarked by Nov. 22 and addressed to:
NCDEQ Division of Air Quality  
1628 Mail Service Center  
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
DAQ will consider all public comments before making a final decision on the proposed
permits.
If you need this information in Spanish or another language, please call 919-707-8446
or email [e-mail].

For More Information
Contact: Shawn Taylor
Phone: [phone]