CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) today of plans to suspend its application for two proposed new nuclear units on its Harris site near New Hill in Wake County, North Carolina.

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Progress Energy Carolinas submitted the combined construction and operating license application to the NRC in February 2008.

"The Harris site is well suited for new nuclear generation and has not been eliminated from our long-term consideration as a site to expand our nuclear fleet," said Dhiaa Jamil, Duke Energy executive vice president and president of Duke Energy Nuclear.

"Duke uses an integrated resource planning approach to ensure that it reliably and economically forecasts and plans resources to meet the electricity needs of its customers well into the future," he added. "Our most recent forecast indicates two additional nuclear units at Harris will not be needed in the next 15 years."

Duke Energy is well positioned to meet customers' future energy needs in the Carolinas.

As part of a $9 billion generation fleet modernization program, Duke brought three power plants (Dan River and H.F. Lee natural gas combined-cycle plants and Cliffside unit 6) into service in late 2012. The Sutton combined-cycle plant will come on line later this year.

Duke Energy has operated nuclear plants for more than 40 years, setting industry benchmarks for safety and efficiency. Nuclear energy, with zero-carbon emissions, is an important clean-energy resource for the future, and is a key component of Duke Energy's long-term strategy to reduce its carbon footprint.

Duke Energy continues to pursue its application with the NRC for new nuclear generation for the W.S. Lee site in Gaffney, S.C. and the Levy site in Levy County, Fla.

With almost 28,000 employees, Duke Energy's regulated utilities operate in six states and serve 7.2 million customers. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

Contact: Rick Rhodes
Office: 704.382.3747 | 24-Hour: 800-559-3853

SOURCE Duke Energy